Daunte and Detroit: A Match Made in Heaven
Daunte Culpepper. Is there a more amusing tale of someone overrating their own abilities, both athletically and mentally? At the moment, I can't think of one.
Daunte insists that he's an elite quarterback and should be treated (and paid) as one, and after being kicked to the curb by the Raiders and Dolphins, and being unable to secure a multi-year contract from anyone even after quarterbacks started dropping like flies, Culpepper announced his retirement.
He probably should have consulted his agent to get a more realistic view of his prospects, and to convince him to sign a one-year deal wherever he could get it. Unfortunately for Culpepper, in addition to unrealistic beliefs about his football beliefs, he's equally unrealistic about his intellectual capacity -- he serves as his own agent. So he's not going to get any good advice from that quarter.
Culpepper felt ignored despite his belief in his skills, and when he couldn't find a long-term home he announced his retirement at the age of 31.
When facing that situation, most quarterbacks with skills similar to Culpepper's end up taking those one year deals and bouncing around the league, making a good living until something comes up and they end up being able to play again. Only pride could keep someone from such a life -- it's not like the second year is guaranteed anyway. Aren't you better off taking the one year in the hopes that you can perform well enough to actually earn a bigger paycheck the next year?
Fortunately for Daunte, however, there just so happens to be an NFL franchise as haphazardly run as his own life -- and now he's secured a two year contract with the Detroit Lions! It's a match made in heaven.
The Bears secondary must be drooling right now at the thought of all the errant passes that should be coming their way this week; the only thing that could prevent it is the inevitable fumbles.
Enjoy Daunte, Detroit.
Posted by Sean Schulte at 2008-11-01 17:14:55
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