Daunte Culpepper News: Pro Sports Daily

November 28

Denver Post

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"The Broncos likely will face Raiders quarterback Daunte Culpepper in Sunday's game. Culpepper helped the Raiders break a six-game losing streak with a win over Kansas City."

Culpepper, Raiders air it out

November 19

Sacramento Bee

"Having a big day at the Metrodome is nothing new for Daunte Culpepper. He still holds several Minnesota Vikings passing records, including most yards in a season (4,717 in 2004), and is third on the franchise's career list with 20,162 yards in seven seasons."

Culpepper's sheer will not enough for Oakland

November 19

San Francisco Chronicle

"Daunte Culpepper, the migrant quarterback who wears his silver and black uniform with dignity but knows he has no future in Oakland, did about all he could Sunday. Culpepper completed 23 of 39 passes for 344 yards, one touchdown and one interception inside his former Vikings' hangout, the Metrodome."

Not all the way back ... but he's getting there

November 19

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Mark Craig

"Daunte Culpepper's competitiveness reached a new high Sunday when he challenged me to a foot race for suggesting the 'Daunte of old would have been long gone' on a key third-down scramble that came up short late in the fourth quarter of the Raiders' 29-22 loss to the Vikings."

Culpepper back at dome

November 18

Contra Costa Times

"Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress awoke this morning knowing Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger are his most appealing options to start at quarterback today against the Raiders. He won't have to look far to see what could have been...That's right, Culpepper makes his first return to the place he called home for the first seven years of his career for a game against a team still seeking an adequate replacement for the three-time Pro Bowler."

Moss' departure left void for Culpepper

November 18

Minneapolis Star Tribune

columnist Sid Hartman

"The fact that Daunte Culpepper will start today for the Oakland Raiders at the Metrodome brought back memories of how high former Vikings coach Dennis Green was on the potential of the Central Florida quarterback before the 1999 draft."

Raiders give Culpepper another try

November 15

San Francisco Chronicle

"Raiders quarterback Daunte Culpepper upper-body-danced in place, lip-syncing and head-bobbing to the music from his iPod stereo system. Culpepper had everything to smile about at his locker Wednesday. He had just been renamed the starting quarterback, with Josh McCown going to the bench, in time to face another of his former employers."

Culpepper is back as Raiders' starter

November 15

Sacramento Bee

"When asked by a reporter Monday about playing Minnesota, Daunte Culpepper said he needed to collect his thoughts. Had Culpepper commented before a phone call from head coach Lane Kiffin early Tuesday telling him he again was the Raiders' starting quarterback, his thoughts would have been incomplete. Culpepper will lead the offense against the Vikings on Sunday at the Metrodome, where he starred and was a three-time Pro Bowl player."

Culpepper didn't have a chance, but Russell will

October 29

San Francisco Chronicle

"Watching Raiders quarterback Daunte Culpepper flee for his life Sunday as the Titans' front seven laid almost gratuitous hits and sacks on him, it was tempting to peek along the sideline at Oakland's $32 million (guaranteed) rookie and wonder, Is it time?"

If that was a test, give us the rookie

October 15

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Scott Ostler

"JaMarcus Russell, please pick up the white courtesy phone, which is ringing like a firehouse alarm bell with the barn ablaze. Daunte Culpepper got his first genuine test as the Raiders' starting quarterback Sunday, and it didn't go so swimmingly. He didn't get 'er done."

Oakland goes against grain by ignoring running game

October 15

Contra Costa Times

"Oakland's first eight offensive plays were passes by Daunte Culpepper. Overall, Raiders running backs ran the ball only 20 times. Running backs averaged 33 carries the first four games. The Raiders attempted 37 passes Sunday. Eight other times, Culpepper got sacked or ran the ball himself on attempted pass plays."

Daunte to start against Chargers

October 9

San Francisco Chronicle

"Daunte Culpepper was named Oakland's starting quarterback against San Diego. The look on his face indicated Raiders coach Lane Kiffin didn't give him a heads-up. "He didn't tell me that," Culpepper said when reporters broke the news to him after practice Monday."

Chargers provide test for Culpepper

October 9

Contra Costa Times

columnist Eric Gilmore

"This time there was no delay. No subterfuge. No attempt to keep the other team guessing. Raiders coach Lane Kiffin came right out Monday afternoon and announced that quarterback Daunte Culpepper will start Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. End of story."

Culpepper, still not the starter, was en-lightning

October 2

San Francisco Chronicle

"You might guess that Daunte Culpepper will start at quarterback against the Chargers. But coach Lane Kiffin, staying true to form, wouldn't anoint Culpepper as the No. 1 man Monday despite his sterling work in Sunday's 35-17 win over the Dolphins in Miami."

Daunte's inferno: QB gets his chance, 5 TDs

October 1

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Gwen Knapp

"Daunte Culpepper on Sunday put life into two of the most moribund items in the sports world: the Raiders' offense and the cliche about the fury of an athlete scorned."

Culpepper: I'm just fine

October 1

Sacramento Bee

"Culpepper, starting his first game since Oct. 1, 2006 when he was a Dolphin, threw for two touchdowns and ran for three more in his return to Dolphin Stadium in the Raiders' 35-17 win."

Culpepper shows play-calling savvy

October 1

Sacramento Bee

"On his second touchdown pass in Sunday's 35-17 victory over Miami, Culpepper told wide receiver Jerry Porter to go deep if the Dolphins were set on not allowing Porter to run a slant route, on which he had scored in the first quarter."

Culpepper gets revenge against Dolphins

October 1

Miami Herald

"Quarterback Daunte Culpepper didn't say much to his Oakland Raiders teammates to let them know how sweet revenge felt against his old team."

Dolphins drop to 0-4 as Culpepper exacts revenge

October 1

Miami Herald

"Culpepper sat in the back seat, wearing a dark suit and a smile. He just defeated his old team, just delivered a humiliating dose of revenge in a 35-17 win against the Dolphins, the same organization that terminated his contract in July."

Daunte delivers: QB matchup a mismatch

October 1

Palm Beach Post

"Trent Green says he doesn't read newspapers leading up to a game, so he didn't know the hype for Sunday was whether the Dolphins made the right move at quarterback by selecting him over Daunte Culpepper. But just because Green didn't know that fact doesn't mean he was oblivious to it."

Culpepper's performance a bit deceiving

October 1

Miami Herald

columnist Dan Le Batard

"The story line is too easy, Daunte Culpepper dismantling his former employer Sunday afternoon with a vigilante's vengeance. But it is something between an illusion and a lie, too."

Culpepper has good day, but last laugh is best of all

October 1

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

columnist Dave Hyde

"You can squeeze this latest Dolphins loss into one sentence, as long as that sentence includes the words embarrassing, humiliating, overpowered, undermanned, foreboding, haunting and … 'Daunte Culpepper, where'd you come up with that celebration?'"

End-Zone taunts, not words, reveal Daunte's real feelings

October 1

Palm Beach Post

columnist Greg Stoda

"Daunte Culpepper was more than happy to escort the Dolphins into an 0-4 hell. He figured he owed 'em that much considering how they had escorted him, literally, off their practice fields and out of their lives in June when they finally discarded and discounted him as a failure."

Dolphins: No grudge against Daunte

October 1

Florida Today

"Daunte Culpepper is still a respected man in the Miami locker room, despite what he did to them as an opposing quarterback Sunday."

Daunte gets his revenge

October 1

Florida Today

"Oakland ran the ball for 49 of its 62 plays, picking up 299 yards rushing on the way to a 35-17 victory against the Dolphins that was as crushing emotionally as it was physically. Former Dolphin Daunte Culpepper celebrated his return to South Florida with three rushing touchdowns and two touchdown passes in a game he insisted was nothing personal."

Back in Miami happy, healthy

September 28

Contra Costa Times

"The Dolphins bailed on Culpepper after one season. On Sunday in Miami, he is expected to make his first start since his four-game starting stint with the Dolphins, against the team that instead opted for 37-year-old Trent Green without giving Culpepper a shot."

Kiffin Still Won't Name His Starting QB

September 28

San Francisco Chronicle

"Josh McCown, still in a boot to protect his fractured left toe, didn't practice Thursday, but coach Lane Kiffin wouldn't officially designate Daunte Culpepper as the Raiders' starting quarterback against Miami on Sunday."

Culpepper is back in black

September 27

Miami Herald

"Although it is not official whether Daunte Culpepper will play Sunday, most of his former Dolphins teammates dismiss the importance of the quarterback's return to Miami. Hanging at his locker at the Dolphins' practice facility, linebacker Donnie Spragan wasn't going to miss this."

Daunte adds intrigue to matchup of reeling teams

September 27

Palm Beach Post

"Daunte Culpepper said nothing Wednesday afternoon. Perfect. Because he did nothing during his four-game career with the Dolphins last season. Culpepper is a quarterback with Oakland these days. He landed on the Raiders' scrap heap after Miami discarded him while targeting Trent Green as its starter, even while Green was with the Kansas City Chiefs."

Dolphins prepare for possible start by Culpepper

September 27

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"It would be natural for quarterback Daunte Culpepper to seek vengeance against a team and coach who cut him two months ago without giving him a chance to compete for the starting job. But even if Culpepper makes his first start for the Oakland Raiders on Sunday against the host Dolphins — which is likely — effusive Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter has other ideas."

Raiders' Culpepper may start vs. Fins

September 25

Miami Herald

"Although still early in the week, it's already beginning to look like a strong possibility that Raiders quarterback Daunte Culpepper might start Sunday against the Dolphins at Dolphin Stadium."

Raiders Pick QB, Or So It Seems

September 5

San Francisco Chronicle

"Raiders coach Lane Kiffin says there's a lot to be said about body language. With that in mind, it looks like Daunte Culpepper is the new starting quarterback for his Oakland Raiders."

Kiffin, QB's Are Tight-Lipped As To Starter

September 5

Contra Costa Times

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"The Raiders have a starting quarterback for their regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Yet, apparently only coach Lane Kiffin and quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Josh McCown are in on the secret."

Raiders Starting Quarterback Is Top Secret

September 5

Akron Beacon Journal

"If Josh McCown is as savvy at quarterback as he is with the media, he just might start Sunday's season opener against the Detroit Lions. But he's not saying who the quarterback is, even though coach Lane Kiffin has told McCown and his competition for the nod, Daunte Culpepper."

Culpepper Gives Raiders Insurance

August 1

Contra Costa Times

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"With 6-foot-6, 260-pound quarterback JaMarcus Russell still on the outside looking in, the Raiders decided to go out and get someone bigger. It turned out to be more than a threat. Daunte Culpepper passed a physical Tuesday morning, then agreed to terms of a one year contract with the Raiders."

Raiders' QB Corps Gets Deeper

August 1

Sacramento Bee

"While JaMarcus Russell waits for his agents to OK a contract, the Raiders struck a deal with a quarterback that represents himself, signing three-time Pro Bowler Daunte Culpepper to a one-year deal. The Raiders flew Culpepper to California for a workout at the team's training camp Tuesday after watching him work out in Florida on Monday."

Culpepper Is Raiders' Rent-A-QB

August 1

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Ray Ratto

"Culpepper worked out for the Raiders on Monday in Florida, then came to Napa on Tuesday to show coach Lane Kiffin the depth and breadth of his ability. The Raiders were properly impressed/boxed into a corner to accede to Culpepper's principal demand - the right to be a rental player."