NFL Draft Changes Big Time with Culpepper/Brees deals

[Bowser]

Culpepper to Miami for 2nd Rd pick
Brees signs a 6-year deal with Saints, who have 2nd overall pick.

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

This offseason has been really interesting so far. And it looks like it will only get better. I'm very worried that FA is really going to bite the Steelers hard this year.

[ExPatriatePen]

Culpepper to Miami for 2nd Rd pick
Brees signs a 6-year deal with Saints, who have 2nd overall pick.

The Culpepper deal is a steal for Miami.

What the heck are the Saints gonna do if one of the QB's falls to them?
Did Brees consider that he may be in the exact same position he was in with Rivers again?

[Bowser]

Steelers play in a crap division. Baltimore won't win anything with Kyle Boeller at QB. Bengals may not have Palmer for the start of the season and just lost Jon Kitan to Detroit. Charlie Frye is a nice QB but isn't ready to be a leader for a playoff team.

Steelers should win this division even if they lose Kimo, Hope, Haynes, and some others.

[Bowser]

EPP - I agree, Minnesota did it to themselves by not working with Culpepper to trade him without public comments. Nick Saban has done a helluva job in one year as Head Coach/GM in Miami.

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

The Fish are going to be a tough opponent this year for sure.

[ExPatriatePen]

The Fish are going to be a tough opponent this year for sure.

Living in the Heart of JETVile - I LOVE THAT!

The Giants are my second Favorite NFL Team... and I absolutely HATE the Jets... I think the final straw was when it became evident to me that they kept refering to Joe Namath as being from Alabama! (Where you spend four years of college is not where you're FROM)

[Draftnik]

Signing big ticket UFAs is a waste of Cap space in the NFL. Building through the draft and signing non-premium UFAs is the proven way to construct a winner.

[Rocco]

Culpepper to Miami for 2nd Rd pick
Brees signs a 6-year deal with Saints, who have 2nd overall pick.

The Culpepper deal is a steal for Miami.

What the heck are the Saints gonna do if one of the QB's falls to them?
Did Brees consider that he may be in the exact same position he was in with Rivers again?

The Saints are 2nd, so one of the QBs was going to fall to them regardless. If they feel good about Brees' arm, then it's smart- there are questions about Leinart/Young/Cutler. They can trade the pick, and avoid having to pay that guy the big signing bonus. Then they use the surplus picks to fill holes. They need to do something to excite the fan base; signing a big-name FA is a good way to do that.

As for Culpepper, supposedly the problem in Minny was Randy Moss. He's traded, and it turns out Culpepper is every bit the problem- throws a ton of picks, gets hurt, wants a new contract, then wants out. Miami's getting themselves a potential headcase.

[Draftnik]

Culpepper to Miami for 2nd Rd pick
Brees signs a 6-year deal with Saints, who have 2nd overall pick.

The Culpepper deal is a steal for Miami.

What the heck are the Saints gonna do if one of the QB's falls to them?
Did Brees consider that he may be in the exact same position he was in with Rivers again?

The Saints are 2nd, so one of the QBs was going to fall to them regardless. If they feel good about Brees' arm, then it's smart- there are questions about Leinart/Young/Cutler. They can trade the pick, and avoid having to pay that guy the big signing bonus. Then they use the surplus picks to fill holes. They need to do something to excite the fan base; signing a big-name FA is a good way to do that.

As for Culpepper, supposedly the problem in Minny was Randy Moss. He's traded, and it turns out Culpepper is every bit the problem- throws a ton of picks, gets hurt, wants a new contract, then wants out. Miami's getting themselves a potential headcase.

I think the Saints will trade down a few spots and get Ferguson or Williams and some extra picks. I don't think Brees is a big time NFL QB though.

Isn't Scott Linehan (former Vikes OC) the OC in Miami? He coached Culpepper to 3 out of 4 or 4 out of 5 good seasons in Minnesota. Culpepper has issues, but he has turned in 2 of the best statistical seasons by a QB in recent memory in his short career. Chris Chambers has been a stud without a real QB. They will make an awesome combo. Saban runs an infinitely tighter ship than Tice, so Culpepper will get with the program.

[Bowser]

most important fact for Culpepper to be a better QB besides Mike Tice not being his head coach is actually having a running game with Ronnie Brown.

[Rocco]

most important fact for Culpepper to be a better QB besides Mike Tice not being his head coach is actually having a running game with Ronnie Brown.

In 2004, when Culpepper was actually good, the Vikings running game was better than the Dolphins of 2005 (4.7 ypc as opposed to 4.3 ypc). This year, when Culpepper was tossing INTs, the running game in his healthy games was brutal- 79 yards per game, below their seasonal average (and 146 of those yards came against the dreadful Saints). Perhaps instead of the running game dragging Culpepper down, it was the other way around? And since Culpepper put up good years in the past under Tice, I have a hard time blaming Tice for Culpepper's problems. And that's without bringing up his involvement in that rather embarrassing boat cruise incident.

Either way, Culpepper doesn't solve Miami's problems. For all of the jokes, the Frerotte/Rosenfels combo didn't kill them last year.

[freq019]

Kimo is gone to the jets FYI

[Goalie]

I just read where Drew Brees will be due huge bonuses ($12 million is what is being reported) in the second year of his deal. This could make it very likely that the Saints could cut him after one year basically making his contract for one year and $10 million. This would then still allow them to take a QB in the first round, let him learn for a year and then take over.

It would be a weird move considering the Saints need more than just a QB to get better but its not out of the realm of possibility.

[DelPen]

It would make sense for the Vikings and Saints to work out some kind of trade so the Vikings could move up and take a QB and the Saintes, who look like they have been gutted by free aganecy, could pick up an extra pick or two.

[pfim]

Culpepper to Miami for 2nd Rd pick
Brees signs a 6-year deal with Saints, who have 2nd overall pick.

The Culpepper deal is a steal for Miami.

What the heck are the Saints gonna do if one of the QB's falls to them?
Did Brees consider that he may be in the exact same position he was in with Rivers again?

Culpepper tore 3 ligaments in his knee, 2nd round pick wasn't bad for him.

[ExPatriatePen]

Culpepper tore 3 ligaments in his knee, 2nd round pick wasn't bad for him.

You think maybe they had a few doctors take a look at him?

I'm not thinking that the Dolphins are gambling, they're pretty confident that Dante's medical issues aren't going to be a problem.

[pfim]

Culpepper tore 3 ligaments in his knee, 2nd round pick wasn't bad for him.

You think maybe they had a few doctors take a look at him?

I'm not thinking that the Dolphins are gambling, they're pretty confident that Dante's medical issues aren't going to be a problem.

He's still rehabbing it, still faces charges in the Love Boat thing, and had a public feud with Vikings management. I'm actually surprised they got a 2nd round pick.

[ExPatriatePen]

He's still rehabbing it, still faces charges in the Love Boat thing, and had a public feud with Vikings management. I'm actually surprised they got a 2nd round pick.

I've stated my opinion on his medical condition, the charges in the 'Love Boat' episode are misdemeanors and just an annoyance in Miami.

I will agree with you about his attitude and public feud. On the other hand, can you name a franchise more screwed up than the Vikings over the last three years? He was justified in some of his frustration, his reaction, however, was completely out of line.

I still think the Dolphins made out here. They seem pretty happy about it, they feel confident enough that they released Gus Ferrotte. Now they have NO backup at QB.

[Stoosh]

In his latest Mock Draft, Don Banks of si.com has the Saints and Jets swapping first rounders, with the Jets moving up to get Leinart and the Saints then taking Mario Williams at #4. That could happen as long as the Saints were sure that the Titans would take either Vince Young or Jay Cutler, although Banks seems to speculate that the Titans may have some interest in Williams as well. That makes New Orleans's course of action kind of interesting here. Maybe they stay pat and take Williams at #2.

It'll also be really interesting if the Jets swing this potential deal with Atlanta. That would basically send John Abraham to the Falcons with Matt Schaub coming back to the Jets, and that would effectively end any real need for the Jets to trade up to get Leinart. The Falcons, however, sound awfully reluctant to part with Schaub (which makes me wonder how much longer they stick with Michael Vick...if Vick is THAT good, why the fuss over Schaub?).

[Bowser]

Stoosh - that's what I'd like to know. Why are you fussing over a backup QB if you're happy with Vick?

[Rocco]

The simple answer is because Vick is brittle, and his reckless style means he's going to get hurt and miss time. The Falcons found that out two years ago when Doug Johnson and Kurt Kittner killed their offense. Schaub is more valuable than your standard backup QB because he's practically guaranteed playing time.

[ExPatriatePen]

Stoosh - that's what I'd like to know. Why are you fussing over a backup QB if you're happy with Vick?

I'm surprised Vicks style of play hasn't gotten him killed yet. (Ala Culpepper)

No way you can count on Vick to take every snap next year, the odds are against it.

[ExPatriatePen]

He's still rehabbing it, still faces charges in the Love Boat thing, and had a public feud with Vikings management. I'm actually surprised they got a 2nd round pick.

I've stated my opinion on his medical condition, the charges in the 'Love Boat' episode are misdemeanors and just an annoyance in Miami.

I will agree with you about his attitude and public feud. On the other hand, can you name a franchise more screwed up than the Vikings over the last three years? He was justified in some of his frustration, his reaction, however, was completely out of line.

I still think the Dolphins made out here. They seem pretty happy about it, they feel confident enough that they released Gus Ferrotte. Now they have NO backup at QB.

Nick Saban's starting off right with Culpepper.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06075/671076.stm

/StartClipClip

Thursday, March 16, 2006
By The Associated Press


Dolphins

Celebratory extravaganzas are usually a ritual when a star athlete comes to a new team. Nick Saban wanted no such spectacle for Daunte Culpepper. The Miami coach managed to sneak his newly acquired quarterback in and out of town without anyone getting a photo, much less a quote.

/EndClipClip