In 2004, he authored one of the greatest single seasons for any quarterback in league history. In 2011, the 11th pick in the 1999 draft wants to continue his NFL career, one year after taking a detour to the UFL.
Daunte Culpepper, who admittedly at times is to PFT what Jeff George is to Jason Whitlock, has advised us of his desire to take another shot at the highest level of the sport.
“Now that it seems that a deal has finally been reached between the owners and the players, I have decided to enter my name into the NFL free agent pool of quarterbacks,” Culpepper said via e-mail. “I have spent the entire off-season preparing for July training camp and I am anxious to get started. Hopefully, the landscape has changed in the NFL for veteran quarterbacks like me who are ready, willing and able to play right away while the rookie quarterbacks get up to speed. I am thankful to the UFL for giving me a chance to play last year for Coach Dennis Green and the Sacramento Mountain Lions. It was refreshing and exhilarating to prepare and play every week. However, I have unfinished business in the NFL and look forward to an opportunity to play a role on an NFL team this year.”
Though plenty of you will scoff, consider the number of teams that need quarterbacks -- and the number of them that could be relying on an unproven (and largely unprepared) rookie. Teams that should at least consider giving Culpepper a tryout include the Titans, Bengals, Vikings (yes, Vikings), Panthers, and Cardinals.
Can anyone credibly claims that Culpepper wouldn’t have been a better option last season than any of the stiffs whom the Cardinals trotted out onto the field?
Culpepper’s career probably has suffered over the past few years from his decision to go it alone, without an agent. It’s hard to say what needs to be said, when you’re the person saying it on your behalf.
So we’ll say something right now on Daunte’s behalf. With all the guys out there who proved last year that they can’t play quarterback very well, would it be crazy to give a look-see to a guy who showed seven years ago that he has the ability to play almost as well as anyone ever has?
