Vikings | Wilf claims no knowledge of Culpepper trade
Thu, 9 Mar 2006 20:53:32 -0800
Jeff Zulgad, of the Star Tribune, reports
Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said he did not know of an impending deal involving QB
Daunte Culpepper. "I honestly don't know anything about that," Wilf said when asked about a report on the
NFL.com website that indicated a Culpepper deal was imminent. "I would tell you if I did. I think it's guesswork on their part."
Reports began to circulate Thursday afternoon, March 9, that the
Vikings were upset enough by Culpepper's request to be traded that they began to aggressively shop him. "
Daunte Culpepper stated he would like to be traded or released, and right now we're addressing the situation," Wilf said from his New Jersey home. "That's all I can say."
Vikings | More about potential Culpepper trade
Thu, 9 Mar 2006 20:58:31 -0800
Don Seeholzer and
Sean Jensen, of the
Pioneer Press, report the
Minnesota Vikings would gain an additional $2.3 million in salary cap space by trading QB
Daunte Culpepper. In addition, if he is traded soon, Culpepper's $6 million roster bonus would be paid by his new club. Given Culpepper's knee injury, the return on Culpepper could be minimal for the Vikings. The source said teams would not part with a first-round pick and that a conditional pick was expected. According to
FOXSports.com, if the
Vikings can't trade him before that bonus is due, they intend to ask him to push the date back in order to continue to work toward a trade.
Pat Kirwan, a senior analyst for
NFL.com, said because of Culpepper's uncertain physical status, any trade likely will involve future conditional draft choices. "This would be a sliding scale that I've run past a few general managers that are not in the market for Culpepper," Kirwan said. "The draft picks are for 2007. If you trade for the guy and he never plays, the compensation is zero. If he plays eight or less games, the compensation is a second-round pick. If he plays nine or more games, the compensation is a first-round pick. If he throws for 3,000 yards, then it's a first and a third. And if he makes the Pro Bowl next year, it's two first-round picks."