Vikings rookie long snapper Austin Cutting has been cleared to play in the NFL, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Previously, the seventh-round pick’s status was up in the air due to his commitment to the Air Force Academy. 
Cutting, taken with the No. 250 overall pick, is expected to sign a four-year, $2.59MM contract with the team, including a $74K signing bonus. With a deal in hand, he’ll start training camp early next week with the other Vikings rookies.
Unsurprisingly, Cutting was the lone unsigned seventh-round pick in the NFL. Once he signs, there will be just seven stragglers left in the league.
Is he cleared to play the mascot?
I disagree with this type of policy decisions by our armed services. The commitment to provide military service made by those individuals who received education and training at no cost to them should be fulfilled PRIOR to any employment in the private sector.
There are times that these individuals serve with the Air Force Reserves and will fulfill their military service obligation.
Ha. What’s it matter if he serves down the road. And if he has paid taxes in his life it’s not no cost.
He’s more valuable as a recruiter with his football platform than as any position in the Air Force at this moment. And he is legally obligated to fulfill his full commitment after football, it’s not like he’s going anywhere.
Unless he is unable to physically fulfill
his service obligation due to injuries sustained on the football field. Such unfortunate events can and have happened.
Assuming he can even make the roster cut, he won’t have a huge snap count that would make him a high injury risk. The Vikings punted 72 times last season.
I may be wrong here, but I don’t think the name “Cutting” bodes well for your chances of making an NFL roster…