Minnesota Vikings fans donate more than $150,000 to Saints punter Thomas Morstead's charity

Moussa81/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW ORLEANS) — After his team’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL playoffs, New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead has learned how “ridiculous” Vikings fans are.

Through Thursday morning, Vikings fans had donated more than $150,000 to Morstead’s “What You Give Will Grow” charity, the latest in a string of NFL fan bases showing appreciation for opposing players.

A Vikings fan on Reddit apparently suggested that donations should be made to Morstead’s charity out of respect for how the punter gutted through Sunday’s game with torn cartilage in his ribs. Morstead even came out on the final play to line up at defensive tackle on the two-point conversion kneel-down after Minnesota’s stunning touchdown in the final seconds.

Earlier this week, Morstead said he would return to Minnesota to personally deliver a check to the state’s Child Life Program. He now says he will do so during the week before the Super Bowl.

“I’m totally blown away,” Morstead said in a video posted to Twitter. “That’s a group effort, and it’s gonna affect everyone in your community in a positive way.”

Similar donation sprees have happened in recent weeks, with Buffalo Bills fans sending more than $300,000 to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton after he led his team to a win that helped Buffalo earn a playoff berth. Bengals fans later donated money to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles’ charity after he eliminated their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, from the playoffs.

“It’s very cool,” Morstead said Tuesday. “I wish they were all bitter today because we had won. But it’s nice to see people doing nice things.”

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