Culpepper wants out of Mini

[Foxman]

I have seen this on two seperate sights, so take it for what it's worth.

Culpepper tells Vikings to trade him or release him

MINNEAPOLIS - Daunte Culpepper's shaky relationship with the Minnesota Vikings deteriorated further on Wednesday when the quarterback said he had asked to be released if the team fails to trade him.

"If a trade does not happen then I am asking the Vikings to terminate my contract as soon as possible," Culpepper said in an e-mail to reporters.

Culpepper said he had asked the Vikings if he could speak to interested teams on his own behalf. He said Minnesota denied his request.

He said he appreciated that the team's new owner, Zygi Wilf, was willing to pay him a $6 million bonus due later this month.

"However, because of the fundamental differences I have with management regarding the approach to my personal and professional life, I think it is the best business decision for both parties to go our separate ways," Culpepper said.

He softened his message slightly by saying that if the team didn't honor his request, "then I intend to fulfill my contractual obligations to the Minnesota Vikings."

In a brief phone interview with The Associated Press, Culpepper said he had been angered by a recent e-mail he received from the team. He didn't elaborate on the contents of the e-mail.

 

[Foxman]

More info

Make it 3 websights now:

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Daunte Culpepper's shaky relationship with the Minnesota Vikings deteriorated further on Wednesday when the quarterback said he has asked to be released if the team can't work out a trade.

In an e-mail to reporters, Culpepper said he has been made aware that the Vikings are shopping him on the trade market. He asked the Vikings if he could speak to interested teams on his own behalf _ and was denied.

"If a trade does not happen then I am asking the Vikings to terminate my contract as soon as possible," Culpepper wrote.

He said he appreciated that the team's new owner, Zygi Wilf, was willing to pay him a $6 million bonus due later this month.

"However, because of the fundamental differences I have with management regarding the approach to my personal and professional life, I think it is the best business decision for both parties to go our separate ways," Culpepper said.

He softened his message slightly by saying that if the team didn't honor his request, "then I intend to fulfill my contractual obligations to the Minnesota Vikings."

In a brief phone interview with The Associated Press, Culpepper said he had been angered by a recent e-mail he received from the team. He didn't elaborate on the contents of the e-mail.

A Vikings spokesman didn't immediately return a phone call.

Culpepper's status with the team has been in question ever since a boat party scandal on Lake Minnetonka in September. He was charged with several misdemeanors for lewd conduct; Culpepper has said he is innocent and will fight the allegations in court.

Further complicating Culpepper's situation is his continued recovery from a devastating knee injury on Oct. 30 against Carolina. Culpepper missed most of last season after tearing three ligaments in his right knee, calling into question whether he will be ready for the start of the 2006 season.

Even before the injury, Culpepper was having one of his worst seasons as a pro.

He threw twice as many interceptions as he did touchdowns during the Vikings' 2-5 start. After he went down with the injury, backup Brad Johnson guided the Vikings to six straight wins, though that was due as much to an improved defense as it was Johnson's play.

Culpepper let his longtime agent, Mason Ashe, go in the offseason. He has been representing himself since then, saying he wanted to be more involved in his financial business, and has issued several statements to the media conveying his general unhappiness with the organization.

Culpepper signed a 10-year, $102 million contract in 2003, but much of that money was not guaranteed. He restructured his contract during training camp last season to give him nearly $8 million more in guaranteed money, but the quarterback has not been a steady presence with the team during its coaching change.

Owner Zygi Wilf fired Mike Tice after the last game of the season and replaced him with Philadelphia offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

During his introductory press conference, Childress proclaimed Culpepper the starter, though he acknowledged at the NFL combine that the team had received inquiries about his availability.

Childress said then that he hoped to have both Culpepper and Johnson on the team this season.

"That's the mindset," Childress said at the combine in Indianapolis. "I don't know anything to the contrary."

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

[sadic1]

I wonder how difficult it is to represent yourself and go without an agent. It certainly hampers one's ability to scapegoat the agent when yuo want to play hardball with the team, but you'd keep a lot more of your own money and know where it's going. Have many players done this in recent years? That said, he hasn't looked good, and some could argue that he would never have looked good if not for Randy Moss and Chris Carter. The fumbles have been a problem since day 1 if I recall.

 

[Thelt]

I thought he looked great in 2004, so much so that I drafted him high in my FFL league last year, much to my dissapointment. I think he could still be very successful with the right coach. What is funny is that Oakland is a team that might would take a chance on him......

 

[Collin]

Unless Culpepper's knee injury prevents him from being what he once was, then he's one of the top quarterbacks in the league and should be treated as such. He's apparently immature and doesn't have the best judgment on or off the field, but he has passing skills and rare talent. He doesn't need Randy Moss to be successful either, he simply needs a solid offensive line and a coordinator that will rein in his tendency to freelance.

 

[y2b]

Miami has a couple of choices with Collins, Culpepper, & Brees...

They are a legitimate playoff team with any of those guys...

 

[sadic1]

Wow, I'm surprised you guys are so high on Culpepper. I know yall are probably more studied than me and could dazzle me with some stats, but I felt like even with Moss, he never looked like a super accurate passer, and haven't fumbles always been an issue? I heard something about him having small hands or something. Like I said, I know he's put up numbers and is probably capable of doing it again, but I don't know, there just seems like something about him that puts him a notch or two below the top QBs in the league. Plus, being a guy who has relied on mobility in the past, his accuracy and pocket presence is going to be all the more important as he loses the spring in his legs.

I can't really imagine what Miami would look like with a pro caliber QB. I think it might confuse the fans and have them thinking they were in the wrong stadium it's been so long.

 

[Collin]

Fumbles are an issue, but like Jake, it's more a matter of where he holds the ball than small hands. Both tend to hold the ball low and then bring it up for a pass, whereas you're supposed to keep it up to your chest/shoulder at all times to protect it and to allow for a quicker release. As for accuracy, I think Culpepper's reasonably accurate but I wouldn't put him near the top of the league in that department. He can make all the throws well, however, and he doesn't really get into problems until the called play breaks down. Linnehan did a great job of limiting Culpepper's reads and giving him an outlet to dump the ball off (Wiggins) if his first and second options weren't open. If someone puts Daunte in a structured offense like that again, he'll be a star again.