You can read this article and many other articles at Bearsbacker.com, It's THE Blog for Any Chicago Bears fan.
Earlier today Daunte Culpepper decided to end his NFL career, by retiring at the age of 31.
Culpepper had been offered backup jobs from the
Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, but rumors had him going to
the Bears, Texans, Patriots, 49ers, Chiefs and other teams this
off-season.
He didn't get the offer he wanted, so he decided
to quit, but don't be surprised if his phone isn't ringing sooner, than he thought.
Daunte Culpepper was the 11th pick in the 1999 draft, one pick before bust Cade McNown went to the Chicago Bears.
Culpepper is the all-time Vikings leader in completion percentage with a 64.4 completion %.
Culpepper rushed for a franchise record 2,476 career yards by a quarterback.
He finished his nine NFL seasons with 22,422 passing yards and a
63.8 career completion percentage, with 142 touchdowns and 94
interceptions.
Culpepper told the media this, "After taking a
long look at my career and my personal convictions, I have decided to
begin early retirement from the NFL effective immediately."
"Since the beginning of training camp, I was told
my opportunity would come when a quarterback gets hurt. I cannot
remember the last time so many quarterbacks have been injured during
the preseason," Culpepper said.
"I have been strongly encouraged from family,
friends and league personnel to continue to be patient and wait for an
inevitable injury to one of the starting quarterbacks in the league.
"I would rather shut the door to such
'opportunity' than continue to wait for one of my fellow quarterbacks
to suffer a serious injury. Since I was not given a fair chance to come
in and compete for a job, I would rather move on and win in other
arenas of life."
Statement Culpepper sent to the NFL:
Former Vikings, Dolphins and Raiders quarterback Daunte
Culpepper announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday. He issued
the following statement:
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. After taking a
long look at my career and my personal convictions, I have decided to
begin early retirement from the NFL effective immediately. Since the
beginning of training camp I was told that my opportunity would come
when a quarterback gets hurt. I cannot remember the last time so many
QB's have been injured during the preseason. I have been strongly
encouraged from family, friends and league personnel to continue to be
patient and wait for an inevitable injury to one of the starting
quarterbacks in the league. I would rather shut the door to such
"opportunity" than continue to wait for one of my fellow quarterbacks
to suffer a serious injury. Since I was not given a fair chance to come
in and compete for a job, I would rather move on and win in other
arenas of life. The decision I made in 2006 to represent myself rather
than hire an agent has been an invaluable experience. I now understand
why so many people within the NFL community are uncomfortable with a
player really learning the business. The NFL has become more about
power, money and control than passion, competition and the love of the
game. Regardless of this shift, player's rights are still supposed to
be a part of this league. Since I will not be given the opportunity to
honor the memory of Gene Upshaw by wearing a patch on my uniform this
year, I will instead spend some of my energy applying what he taught me
about standing up for what is right and not sitting down for what is
clearly wrong. I want to thank my family and my fans for their
unwavering belief in me as a person and a player. I embraced both the
peaks and the valleys of the game and my career. I am a better person
today as a direct result of the experience of playing in the NFL. I can
now focus on the enjoyment of watching some of the greatest athletes in
the world play the game I love without the distraction of waiting for
those elusive return phone calls.
Thankfully, Daunte Culpepper.
What's Next?
It's a shame a guy with so much ability had to end his career because no one wanted his duties, not because of his injuries.
He only played seven games last season for the Raiders and they opted not to resgin him this off-season.
That is a long statement for a guy who retired, don't be shocked if he is somewhere this season.
Nicely written jakeperp. Daunte is a bit of his own worst enemy. Before he'd even met face-to-face with then new coach Brad Childress he poisoned the relationship with e-mails airing out his complaints and wound up being traded to Miami. I believe last year, while in the mix for Oakland's starting QB job late in the year, he had a foot-race with a teammate and tore a hamstring - ending his season. Maybe he developed a rap around the league for not having the best judgement.
In 2004 when he passed for 39 TDs and 4700 yards I read that some of the credit went to Gus Frerotte, his backup then. When Gus left in '05 Culpepper's numbers fell off and some said it was because he didn't study gamefilm - was a bit lazy.
Anyway, its a shame to see him retire at 31.
Hey, cool you met Flyin' Byron Russell - the Jazz guard MJ threw out of the way for his winning basket, lol.
Have a great season - just not against the Vikes.
Last edited by Viking5018 on September 4th at 9:02 PM.
jakeperp
I don't think you mentioned the fact when brought in by the Steelers. He apparently thought he'd be in with a shot of dethroning Roethlisberger for starter's position. Oversized ego or the fact that he felt he could still accomplish something. He'd certainly began to regress as a player and when you think that recurring injuries. He could never have return to those glory days that he had in Minnesota.
i kno he still could play, tell him he better follow randy moss and come 2 the pats and ride the bench behind tom brady and collect a ring and then retire, come on don,t quit the nfl needs u.
Good Job on the post. It's to bad that he has chosen to retire. He could of made a great back-up for so many teams around the league. It seems that he wasn't willing to play the roll of back-up.
Well whatever he decides....Thanks for the years and Goood Luck!
Daunta Culpepper is arguably the greatest QB of this era, I mean you have to respect a guy who calls his own injury catastrophic! Go Daunta Culpepper! Daunta Culpepper for HOF!
I am a senior in High School who loves sports and wants to pursue a career in Broadcasting in college.
I am a Chicago Bears Community Leader.
My favorite teams are the Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Everblades of the ECHL. I am a die hard fan of the Chicago Bears.
I write about the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, MLB, my favorite teams and other relevant topics or anything that sounds interesting.
I have met many NBA players in my lifetime. I have met Chris Mullin, Mitch Richmond, Coach K, Rod Higgins, B.J. Armstrong and Byron Russell ( the player on the Utah Jazz who MJ scored against in the NBA finals). I have met two NHL players. I have met Chad Larose of the Carolina Hurricanes and Shane Hnidy of the Boston Bruins. I have met Brandon Phillips and Josh Hamilton when they were playing together on the Cincinnati Reds.
e-mail me with any comments or article ideas @ daperp730@aol .com or bearsbacker@l ive.com, then I will write the article and give you some credit for it.
Visit my blog at http://www.be arsbacker.com /
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. After taking a
long look at my career and my personal convictions, I have decided to
begin early retirement from the NFL effective immediately. Since the
beginning of training camp I was told that my opportunity would come
when a quarterback gets hurt. I cannot remember the last time so many
QB's have been injured during the preseason. I have been strongly
encouraged from family, friends and league personnel to continue to be
patient and wait for an inevitable injury to one of the starting
quarterbacks in the league. I would rather shut the door to such
"opportunity" than continue to wait for one of my fellow quarterbacks
to suffer a serious injury. Since I was not given a fair chance to come
in and compete for a job, I would rather move on and win in other
arenas of life. The decision I made in 2006 to represent myself rather
than hire an agent has been an invaluable experience. I now understand
why so many people within the NFL community are uncomfortable with a
player really learning the business. The NFL has become more about
power, money and control than passion, competition and the love of the
game. Regardless of this shift, player's rights are still supposed to
be a part of this league. Since I will not be given the opportunity to
honor the memory of Gene Upshaw by wearing a patch on my uniform this
year, I will instead spend some of my energy applying what he taught me
about standing up for what is right and not sitting down for what is
clearly wrong. I want to thank my family and my fans for their
unwavering belief in me as a person and a player. I embraced both the
peaks and the valleys of the game and my career. I am a better person
today as a direct result of the experience of playing in the NFL. I can
now focus on the enjoyment of watching some of the greatest athletes in
the world play the game I love without the distraction of waiting for
those elusive return phone calls.
