Culpepper says he's focusing on rehab, nothing else
ESPN.com news services
Rumors abound that
Daunte Culpepper wants out of Minnesota and that the Vikings might be willing to make that happen.
On Thursday, the quarterback responded to the talk in an e-mail to ESPN's Andrea Kremer, saying he's focusing on his rehab and he refuses to waste his energy on the speculation.
"Because I am getting so many requests to comment about reported trade talks, I thought it best to make a clear statement that hopefully won't be misinterpreted. I have found over the years that 'people with knowledge of the situation' are usually the most ignorant, and 'anonymous sources' are usually synonymous with cowards who don't want to go on the record," Culpepper wrote.
"My position has been and continues to be that I am focusing on rehabilitating my knee so that I can come back and play the game I love at the highest level. Until I hear different from [Vikings owner Zygi Wilf] or the new 'triangle of authority' at the Vikings I plan on playing quarterback for Minnesota. Trying to delve into speculation, innuendo, rumor or anything else of this nature would be a waste of energy. I choose at this time to spend my energy on getting healthy."
The Star Tribune reported Thursday that the Vikings are gauging his trade value around the NFL.
A source told The Star Tribune that the Vikings began shopping Culpepper around the league after the quarterback asked that $10 million be added to his contract in 2006.
The newspaper reported that Wilf angrily turned down Culpepper's request and no substantive talks between the two sides has taken place since.
Culpepper, who is recovering from major knee surgery after tearing his anterior cruciate, medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in a game against the Panthers on Oct. 30, parted ways with his longtime agent, Mason Ashe, last month.
Culpepper has been seldom seen around Minnesota since the injury, spending most of his time rehabilitating in his native Florida.
New coach Brad Childress, who was hired to replace the fired Mike Tice, tried to connect with Culpepper when they were both in town in January. But Childress had to settle for a 45-minute phone conversation, which he described as a "good flow on information back and forth" but declined to characterize the tone.
Further complicating Minnesota's offseason, Brad Johnson has also stressed his desire to remain a starter.
Wilf has said he plans to keep both of them. Due $6 million in bonuses in March, Culpepper is expected to be ready to participate in training camp -- but that's not a guarantee given the severity of his injury.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Link
