After nine NFL seasons, seven of which were spent with the Minnesota Vikings, quarterback Dante Culpepper has decided to retire. 
Reason for Retiring
In retiring, the QB said, “Since I was not given a fair chance to come in and compete for a job, I would rather move on and win in other arenas of life.” But although he has called it quits, it does not mean that the veteran won’t get a call or two part way through the season if a NFL starter goes down.
In his last three seasons, Daunte Culpepper saw action in only 18 games. He played with Minnesota from 1999 through 2005 and then with the Miami Dolphins in 2006 and the Oakland Raiders in 2007.
Best and Worst of Times
His best season was in 2004. Culpepper played in 16 regular season games, completing 69.2-percent of his throws for 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns. He threw just 11 picks and earned a rating of 110.9.
But the last three seasons have seen the signal callers’ output diminish. From 2005 through 2007, he completed 61% of his passes, hitting for 13 scores while tossing 20 interceptions. His QB rating was 75.7. His stock fell severely after he suffered a bad knee injury in 2005. Since that time, he has been prone to injuries and has been unable to elude the sack.
The QB’s Take
Culpepper observed, “No matter what I did or said, there seemed to be a unified message from teams that I was not welcome to compete for one of the many jobs that were available at the quarterback position. It seems that the stance I took in both Minnesota and Miami regarding my rights as a person and player has followed me into free agency.”
Although the veteran QB has every right to make that argument, his numbers and performance have been below par for an extended period of time.
