Culpepper running out of options

Maybe Daunte Culpepper will join the Bucs, after all.

The word is that the Bucs encouraged Culpepper to make a decision by the time the team reports to training camp Thursday at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

Culpepper's options appear to be dwindling and he doesn't have time to take the free agent tour. Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said his team has no interest in the Dolphins' free agent despite the indictment of Michael Vick. That could be a strange situation for the Falcons, anyway, since starter Joey Harrington backed up Culpepper in Miami last year.

The biggest surprise might be the sound of the door shutting in Jacksonville. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said on his radio show Tuesday that Culpepper would not be joining them.

"We said we'd investigate it and we have,'' Del Rio said. "My gut is it's not going to be a fit for us and for him.

"I think it's all about a player and a team finding common ground. I'm just telling you that at this point he has other suitors out there and we feel good about our quarterback situation with Byron Leftwich as our starter and David Garrard as our backup.''

What other suitors? It could be that Del Rio is simply saying Culpepper's price tag is too high. Or maybe Culpepper still sees himself as a starting quarterback. But the Falcons, Jaguars and Rams have all said no to Culpepper.

For the time being, the only team that has publicly shown interest in signing Culpepper is the Bucs, who snuck him into town last Thursday.

From the Bucs' perspective, Culpepper has a lot more NFL pedigree than either Chris Simms or Bruce Gradkowski. If starter Jeff Garcia becomes injured, coach Jon Gruden would find himself in the same situation as he did last year.

He doesn't exactly fit the Bucs' offense. But if Gruden can retool his attack for Simms in 2005, he can do it for Culpepper. You also know that Gruden can charm the socks off of any quarterback.

Some believe Culpepper might not be physically able to play until late in 2007. His health is an issue. Culpepper also has to realize that where ever he plays, he won't be starting the first game. In fact, he might have to sit the entire season and use it to get healthy.

Money is another factor. You can bet the Jags wouldn't pay Culpepper more than Byron Leftwich and the Bucs aren't going to give him more than Garcia.

But  with each passing day, it appears more likely the Bucs could actually land Culpepper.

Comments

[Jeff]

Nobody wants a guy who causes trouble and wants a fortune. Miami should feel relieved to get rid of him.

[DR]

Miami couldn't even get a 7th round pick for the guy, thats why they let him go. He might do well in the arena football league, his backup might be Chris Simms.

[travis]

hey, anythings better than chris simms. maybe culpepper could even re-build his career in tampa bay

[Eric]

this guy is bad... he was only good with the vikings because he had Randy Moss....

[tw]

Jeff and DR are die hard Bucs fans that don't know football. First of all, Dante has not caused trouble on any team that he has been on. Secondly, he is better than every QB on the Bucs roster. Garcia will make a play here and there, but overall he will cause the team to lose more than he wins. I hope that he doesn't play for Gruden's over-hyped offense.

[George]

If Culpepper does sign with Tampa. Lets give him w/o question that he really thinks he can benefit with his experience on Tampa Bay team. 1st of all I would put Simms on IRL after trining camp. and let all the other qb's battle for 3 qb position and practice squad.

[Jeff]

Big strong QB who if not now then at least by mid 07 season will be mobile and has a cannon for an arm. I think the team would rally around a QB like Culpepper. If we could lock him up now I think it would be a good move for our future.

[Bud]

The Bucs haven't had qarterback since they cut Brad Johnson and they coldn't wait to get rid of all their key players,Lynch, Dunn, just to name a couple. They should sign Dante as quick as they can as he's a cut above anything they have!!

[ed]

First of all...Nobody knows for sure if Dante will return to form. Secondly...his style of play does not match the Gruden-playbook--it's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Let's continue to work on having better pass protection, so that a QB can last a season.

[martin]

Why do I keep hearing that Culpepper was only good because of Randy Moss? Randy Moss wasn't playing at UCF when Culpepper single handily made them a dangerous opponent. Sign the guy! Garcia is old and Simms sucks. Yeah, there's the chance he will never fully recover...take that chance.

[martin]

Why do I keep hearing that Culpepper was only good because of Randy Moss? Randy Moss wasn't playing at UCF when Culpepper single handily made them a dangerous opponent. Sign the guy! Garcia is old and Simms sucks. Yeah, there's the chance he will never fully recover...take that chance.

[shane]

culpepper would be a great addition to grudens offense...if he returns to his form. but even so he's better than simms and grad would have the benefit of two good veteran QBs as he will inherit the starting job after they are gone if not beforehand.cut simms sign dante and the rest of our draftees already

[Rob]

Hey Bud,

Dunn left on his on for big money in ATL. The bucs wanted him to stay but could not match the ATL money. One of the first things Gruden said was how excited he was to work with him.

[Larry]

I still say give Trent Dilfer a call

[DR]

Martin, you have got to be kidding me right? You're comparing Division 2 college football to the NFl-hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[derek]

im glad its looking more likely culpepper will join the bucs... maybe then we can trade plummer if he has any value left... who needs a QB no matter how good or bad he is if he doesnt want to be on your team... garcia,culpepper,gradkowski would be solid... gradkowski is far from great but hes a solid enough backup

[don]

i find it amusing reading these comments - Bucs fans no doubt are fed up with the QB situation and desparate. You must be if Daunte is your only hope. Living in MN and a Viking fan I can tell you that DC is not a problem but only to himself. He's an idiot that doesn't get it and will never be a #1 caliber QB in the NFL. STAY AWAY - STAY FAR AWAY. Don't let his size and arm fool you.

[jason]

Sign the Man....Culpepper 2 Galloway Touch Downz all day! 85% of Duante is still stronger and more mobile than any OB currently on our team;furthermore I wouldn't put Garcia makin it the 2 years of his contract....my guess is father time will catch up 1st! Duante will hill one day,and is 7 years younger than ole Jeffy! he would make a much better long term Qb than anybody we have now! I say cut Chris and sign Culpepper with our O-line he'll ne playin by week 6 I hope not ,but I wouldn't be shocked LOL.
Go Bucs!!!! 10-6 in '07

[DelrayPete]

As a Dolphins fan, I love reading all these comments. You guys all sound like Dolphins fans about 1 year ago. Poor, poor, ignorant Bucs fans. Don't get me wrong, I like the Bucs, but people, the guy is a joke. Sure, he can throw the ball. That's about it. Don from Minnesota knows what's going on. Not only is this guy's knee shot, he's a freaking moron. Once things don't go his way, he goes directly to the press and states ultimatums. As his own agent he acts like a spoiled child who won't get up off the ground because he can't have ice cream for dinner. As far as matching Gruden's playbook, that's a main reason of why Cameron canned his a**. No confidence in him whatsoever. Finally, the comment about signing Cpep and trading Plummer. Are you high? The Dolphins couldn't trade a guy in Cpep, a recent Pro Bowler who wants to start, how are you going to trade a guy who is marginal and doesn't want the job?

[DR]

You say Jeffy is too old but have you forgotten about what happened in Miami? They were desperate for an old QB and CANNED Culpepper! There is a reason for that and if he signs, you'll find out what that reason is first hand. If you think any of these pick ups are any good, which they may be, but the talent evaluator just doesn't get much worse in the NFL-Grudumb!

[Alex]

UCF is division 1 football. even though they are not in a competative confrence, they still play teams such as USF, FSU, Miami (FL), and U of F. and when dauntee was the QB, they competed great.

We need to get him. WE NEED HIM. I do nothing but keep up with bucs football and he would be the best QB we have ever had. Plus he would be a home grown player out of ocala. Sign him let him sit out this season to heal up and learn grudens system let Garcia take the team for this season. Hes 37 let he'll retire soon. and PUT SIMMS UP FOR TRADE.

I have hated simms for ever and he is the one bad thing i will remmember about gruden. there is nothing special about that guy except his dad was a good QB.

Dauntee had one bad season witch caused his injury. The same year that randy left. Lets not forget the vikings arent doing better either. so if he healed up i think he can get right back to being a starter.