Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Culpepper Gets Another Chance
Daunte Culpepper has had his share of bad luck over the last few years. Randy Moss left him in Minnesota, where he struggled mightily before suffering a season-ending injury, then he came back too early from knee surgery last year in Miami and struggled before he was replaced by Joey Harrington. He didn't get another chance with the Dolphins as they traded for Trent Green and he nearly didn't control his own fate when the Dolphins held off on releasing him, in the hope that they could force a trade.
Culpepper has found a new home in Oakland, where he'll get the chance to start; an opportunity which seemed extremely unlikely not long ago. Oakland is the best situation Culpepper could have hoped for. He'll have the chance to start, which would have been much harder to come by anywhere else, and mentor JaMarcus Russell. If he succeeds as the starting quarterback, he may well get the chance to start for the entire season (if the Raiders are remotely competitive). The Raiders might take an approach similar to the one Cincinnati took with Carson Palmer or San Diego with Phiip Rivers. That worked out pretty well for the Bengals and the Chargers. Culpepper will most likely be out after one season anyway, so this season will effectively be an audition for him for the rest of the league. If he can prove that he is still the same Daunte Culpepper who lit up defenses in Minnesota, he'll get some calls at the end of the year. (Jacksonville may already have him on speed-dial, just in case.)
It's a great move for the Raiders as well, who now don't have to throw their rookie into the fire behind a poor offensive line and turn him into a tackling dummy. (See: Carr, David) Culpepper, well aware of his role, should make a good mentor for the Russell. What will be very interesting to watch is how long Culpepper lasts. Supposedly he is back to full health now, but with the Raiders' offensive line, that may not last long.
This season could determine Culpepper's NFL legacy. Is he a big guy with a strong arm who was lucky enough to play with a Hall of Fame wide receiver, or is he a superstar who suffered some bad luck? We may not find that out this year, but his performance (and health) could determine whether he gets a chance next year.
Culpepper has found a new home in Oakland, where he'll get the chance to start; an opportunity which seemed extremely unlikely not long ago. Oakland is the best situation Culpepper could have hoped for. He'll have the chance to start, which would have been much harder to come by anywhere else, and mentor JaMarcus Russell. If he succeeds as the starting quarterback, he may well get the chance to start for the entire season (if the Raiders are remotely competitive). The Raiders might take an approach similar to the one Cincinnati took with Carson Palmer or San Diego with Phiip Rivers. That worked out pretty well for the Bengals and the Chargers. Culpepper will most likely be out after one season anyway, so this season will effectively be an audition for him for the rest of the league. If he can prove that he is still the same Daunte Culpepper who lit up defenses in Minnesota, he'll get some calls at the end of the year. (Jacksonville may already have him on speed-dial, just in case.)
It's a great move for the Raiders as well, who now don't have to throw their rookie into the fire behind a poor offensive line and turn him into a tackling dummy. (See: Carr, David) Culpepper, well aware of his role, should make a good mentor for the Russell. What will be very interesting to watch is how long Culpepper lasts. Supposedly he is back to full health now, but with the Raiders' offensive line, that may not last long.
This season could determine Culpepper's NFL legacy. Is he a big guy with a strong arm who was lucky enough to play with a Hall of Fame wide receiver, or is he a superstar who suffered some bad luck? We may not find that out this year, but his performance (and health) could determine whether he gets a chance next year.
3 Comments:
Culpepper sucks. The Raiders are trash.
Who would want to be in Oakland? I wouldn't.
Raiders rocks, Culpeepr are tarsh!
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