Infernal Daunte » Brats & Beer

April 23, 2008
posted under: Daunte Culpepper, NFL Draft, Ted Thompson

So I’ll admit, when I read that Daunte Culpepper was in Green Bay to visit the team I was at first horrified. No way do we want this guy on the Packers. He’s broken down, washed up, and he does that terrible arm roll thing. Certainly Ted Thompson could do better than that.

But then I calmed down a bit.

If he’s healthy and if he’s still got the arm, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to sign Culpepper as Aaron Rodgers’ backup. One thing that contributed to his success in Minnesota — other than playing inside a dome and having Randy Moss running free on a go route — was that he played well inside a system. After Moss left the Vikings, and then when Culpepper was with the Dolphins and Raiders, he was stuck on terrible teams without much guidance and everything was on him to get it done. He’s not that guy, but I think he can be a good system guy.

If the Packers sign him, then, and if — God forbid — he had to come into a game for an injured Rodgers, Culpepper would be surrounded with lots of offensive talent and working in a solid system. Daunte might be shy a few watts, but if you give him a limited script of options he’ll generally find the open man. It could work.

I’m also starting think very strongly that TT will pick a quarterback in the first or second round on Saturday and whomever that turns out to be could very well beat Culpepper for the #2 spot on the roster. Come opening weekend, Culpepper might be the #3 guy on the depth chart and we might never see him on the field. He’d just be an insurance policy against the unthinkable happening.

So if TT can get a deal done for a minimum amount of money, I say go for it. And to Culpepper, I say get your roll on, baby!