Culpepper Looking to the Future

Most of us have heard the news coming out of Miami over the past few days: Daunte Culpepper will soon be released or traded. With Trent Green coming onto the scene, a new John Beck and Cleo Lemon still in the ranks, it’s not a surprise to hear that this is happening. There’s been speculation for months that the Dolphins would soon be making a move on deciding Daunte’s future with the club. The only issue now is exactly how he will leave the team. Dolphins’ management wants compensation for him, of course. But Culpepper’s $5.5 million salary this year is going to make a trade difficult to pull off. There are teams out there with the cap room, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that many teams aren’t looking to trade for a quarterback with the baggage Culpepper is carrying. He’s only played 11 games in the past two seasons, and most teams are still scared to death about his knee injury. But, there are several teams, most notably Jacksonville, that have clearly stated their interest. One problem with a trade that many teams are looking at is that it will force them to take on the remainder of Culpepper’s contract. Most aren’t willing to do that for a quarterback that has a lingering injury. While it’s plausible that Culpepper would rework his contract and play for less, it would be far easier for teams to hold off and wait for Miami to dump him, then sign him to a smaller contract. Getting cut might actually work out for Daunte better than getting traded. For one, he’ll get to choose which team he goes to. Remember, he’s only 30 and has shown in the past that he can play. He is, of course, a project in that nobody knows how he’ll react and play after his knee fully heels. There’s also the possibility that his knee never will heal. But teams would be more willing to take a chance on a guy at $2.5 million a year than at $5.5 million. Culpepper could well take that lower amount from the highest bidder or team that he likes, play a year, and turn it into more. After all, any team that picks him up would be getting what was once a franchise quarterback. Culpepper is a career 64.2% passer with 137 to 89 interceptions. He’s thrown for over 21,000 yards and has a 90.8 passer rating. Can he still put up numbers like that? Nobody knows. But teams would be more to find out if the price was lower. The only other problem facing Miami and Culpepper is that there’s not too large a market for quarterbacks right now. Most teams have a clear starter or a young guy waiting in the wings. Bringing in Culpepper would either destabilize the current situation or be a waste of time, money and a roster spot. Teams that may have been interested (think Cleveland, Houston, Carolina, Detroit, Arizona, NY Jets, Buffalo) have all either brought in young quarterbacks with bright futures or have them on their roster. So, where will he land? I won’t even begin to say where. As mentioned, there have been reports that Jacksonville has contacted Miami. Rumor has it that Tampa might be interested because they could afford to let him rest again this year if need be. Chicago has been brought up, but I would think it’s a long shot right now. Had this deal happened pre-draft, there may have been more, but the team’s and player’s options are now pretty limited. Wherever he lands, though, he’ll get the opportunity he wants: To prove that he can still play.