Daunte Culpepper announced his retirement today after nine seasons in the NFL.He expressed his frustrations with the NFL in his retirement letter:
When Free agency began this year, I had a new sense of excitement about continuing to rebuild my career in the same way that I had rebuilt my knee after my catastrophic injury in 2005. Unfortunately, what I found out was that the league did not share any of the optimism about me as an Unrestricted Free Agent that I expected. In fact, there was an overwhelming sense that there was no room for me among this year's group of quarterbacks; whether in a starting, competing or a back-up role. No matter what I did or said, there seemed to be a unified message from teams that I was not welcome to compete for one of the many jobs that were available at the quarterback position. It seems that the stance I took in both Minnesota and Miami regarding my rights as a person and player has followed me into Free Agency.
Culpepper was the Vikings' first-round draft pick in 1999 and spent seven seasons in Minnesota. He then played the 2006 season in Miami and the 2007 season in Oakland.
Culpepper had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history in 2004, when he passed for 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns and ran for 406 yards and two touchdowns. Although the final seasons of his career were largely disappointing, he'll be remembered as a player whose size and athleticism changed people's perceptions about the quarterback position, and as a three-time Pro Bowler.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-04-2008 @ 11:56AM
West End STench said...
Good Riddance!
Reply
9-04-2008 @ 12:50PM
Spaceno37 said...
While some of what Culpepper says might be true, my understanding is that he wanted a starting job and teams felt that if they had him as a backup to a younger qb that he would not be a gracious mentor.
So no-one signed him.
Reply
9-04-2008 @ 1:01PM
Dave F. said...
In other words:" Duh, Nobody wants me and nobody likes me so I quit". Grow up Daunte. Get an agent that will work in you behalf . Thats what the problem is. All the players in the NFL have agents and thats the buisness end that the teams are comfotable with. Players tend to be to self-serving and an agent works for both sides. Can I make it any plainer than that.
This isnt about you, its about the buisness and thats why you aren't working.
Reply
9-04-2008 @ 5:28PM
fred canada said...
somebody needs to wake up and pick this man up
Reply
9-04-2008 @ 8:45PM
jocn1 said...
dante shouldve the buffalo bills
Reply
9-06-2008 @ 10:40AM
Ben S said...
I can't believe no one wants him. There's only 4-5 elite QB's in the NFL and Culpepper ranks in the upper echelon of the 2nd tier QB's available after the likes of Manning, Brady, Brees, Palmer, etc.. Regardless of how business is typically conducted, the man should have the right to represent himself. However, he has to accept responsibiity for not taking the opportunity to sign with teams that expressed interest in him, although not at the starting position. Look at Kurt Warner, he's been shuffled around and his career has been pronounced dead on more than one ocassion. He's now starting in AZ and will surely be paid considerably more than the "league minimum". Daunte needs to suck it up and prove that he can play at a starting level before expecting to be recieved as the hottest commodity on the free agent market.
Reply
9-05-2008 @ 1:57AM
rambler said...
My uncle is a DR and a good friend of his did Culpeppers reconstructive surgery and said that he had never seen a knee that bad ever. He also said that there would be no way for him to compete at the professional level again. It is really unfair that he even tried to comeback as people made a commitment to him when he wasnt capable of bringing to the table. I always liked him but he had a very short shelf life...
Reply