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POSTED 10:21 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:40 p.m. EDT, July 30, 2007
RAIDERS TALKING TO CULPEPPER
Earlier this year, ESPN's John Clayton declared that Daunte Culpepper was the key to the draft because, if the Raiders were to acquire him, they would not pick JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 overall selection.
We reported in response that the acquisition of Culpepper did not mean that the Raiders would be out of the market for Russell, and vice-versa.
Now, with talks between the Raiders and Russell bogged down and most teams scared off by Culpepper's demand for a one-year contract, Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Culpepper has worked out for the Raiders, and is in talks with the team about signing a contract.
It's unclear whether the sudden interest in Culpepper is driven by the status of the Russell talks, or whether the Raiders would be pursuing this possibility even if Russell were under contract. Still, Culpepper gives the Raiders some insurance against an ongoing holdout.
Though some believe that the gap between the Raiders and Russell is rooted in money, we heard earlier on Monday that the structure of the deal is the problem. Russell's camp wants to maximize the amount of the package that is devoted to an option bonus payment, which is not subject to forfeiture in the event of a holdout or a suspension.
RAIDERS TALKING TO CULPEPPER
Earlier this year, ESPN's John Clayton declared that Daunte Culpepper was the key to the draft because, if the Raiders were to acquire him, they would not pick JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 overall selection.
We reported in response that the acquisition of Culpepper did not mean that the Raiders would be out of the market for Russell, and vice-versa.
Now, with talks between the Raiders and Russell bogged down and most teams scared off by Culpepper's demand for a one-year contract, Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Culpepper has worked out for the Raiders, and is in talks with the team about signing a contract.
It's unclear whether the sudden interest in Culpepper is driven by the status of the Russell talks, or whether the Raiders would be pursuing this possibility even if Russell were under contract. Still, Culpepper gives the Raiders some insurance against an ongoing holdout.
Though some believe that the gap between the Raiders and Russell is rooted in money, we heard earlier on Monday that the structure of the deal is the problem. Russell's camp wants to maximize the amount of the package that is devoted to an option bonus payment, which is not subject to forfeiture in the event of a holdout or a suspension.
