DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -Daunte Culpepper is still with the Miami Dolphins. For now, anyway.
Culpepper was on the Dolphins’ practice field for the start of a weekend minicamp Friday, one day after asking for his release and two days after Miami completed a trade with Kansas City for Trent Green – who’s taking over at quarterback.
Culpepper left the field and headed into the Dolphins training facility about halfway through the scheduled practice. He walked off the field with a member of the Dolphins security staff. The team did not give an immediate explanation.
Culpepper – like the other four quarterbacks on the roster – wore a red jersey, indicating he was not to get hit in any drills. He, Green, Cleo Lemon, John Beck and Gibran Hamdan all warmed up together, lofting easy passes to a few receivers.
But when the team gathered for stretching about 15 minutes into practice, Culpepper remained to the side and did agility drills with a member of the Dolphins’ staff. He rejoined the offense after the stretching portion.
Even then, though, he was basically a spectator. While Beck, Green and Lemon took snaps during a drill, Culpepper stayed near a sideline and jogged with receivers.
The Dolphins want to trade Culpepper, telling him so Wednesday just before completing the Green trade and essentially giving last year’s marquee quarterback acquisition notice that his time in South Florida was ending. But Culpepper, who is his own agent, wants to choose his next destination himself.
Culpepper suffered a serious right knee injury in 2005, was traded by the Minnesota Vikings to Miami for a second-round pick that offseason and surprised many by being the Dolphins’ starting quarterback for the first four weeks of the 2006 campaign. He was hampered by knee problems, was sacked 21 times in those four games and ultimately was shut down for the remainder of the year.
He was cleared to resume practice this week, after missing most of the Dolphins’ offseason sessions because of continued knee rehabilitation.
Green was on the field with his new team for the first time. He wanted out of Kansas City because he felt the Chiefs wouldn’t give him a fair chance to beat Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard for the starting QB job there this year, and worked out a contract with Miami several weeks ago.
It took more than two months for the Dolphins and Chiefs to agree on terms. Kansas City eventually settled for a fifth-round pick in exchange for Green, and could wind up with Miami’s fourth-rounder selection in 2008 depending on how the 36-year-old quarterback fares this season.
Culpepper is owed $5.5 million for this coming season.
Add A Comment