Daunte Culpepper retires from NFL
Daunte Culpepper summed up his thoughts Thursday in two words, which ushered in the start of a new era for the former Pro Bowl quarterback.
"Farewell NFL," he wrote.
With that, a career once filled with such promise came to a most unceremonious end.
Culpepper, who starred for the Minnesota Vikings before a major knee injury in 2005 curtailed his career, announced his retirement in an e-mail Thursday morning, saying he's simply grown tired of fighting for one more opportunity. The 31-year-old was the Vikings' first-round draft choice in 1999, became their full-time starter a year later, and teamed with Randy Moss to pile up yards and touchdowns at an impressive rate.
But he hurt his right knee in October 2005, never played for the Vikings again, and never seemed to return to his past level, either.
"When free agency began this year, I had a new sense of excitement about continuing to rebuild my career in the same way that I had rebuilt my knee after my catastrophic injury in 2005," Culpepper said. "Unfortunately, what I found out was that the league did not share any of the optimism about me as an unrestricted free agent that I expected. In fact, there was an overwhelming sense that there was no room for me among this year's group of quarterbacks."
The Miami Dolphins acquired him in 2006 in exchange for a second-round pick, but Culpepper played only four games before being shut down because of continued knee problems. He was sacked 21 times in those four games, and his brief stint with Miami had two compelling images:
Getting sacked seven times in his first home game, where fans booed him by halftime.
Walking off the field during minicamp in June 2007 because the Dolphins wouldn't let him play, and flanked by a team security official.
Last season, the Oakland Raiders took a shot on Culpepper, and he made five starts there, albeit only getting five touchdown passes in those games. And over the past few months, he tried to get any opportunity around the league, even saying just last week that he'd be willing to be Aaron Rodgers' backup in Green Bay.
There were no takers, and Culpepper saw no reason to keep waiting.
"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," Culpepper said.
Culpepper completed 64 percent of his passes in a nine-year career, with 142 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder out of Central Florida was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and he was at his best in 2004, when he established career-highs in yards (4,717), touchdowns (39) and passing rating (110.9).
Then came the knee injury, and it all went downhill from there, even though Culpepper-who has served as his own agent and announced his retirement in an e-mail-believes he can still compete.
"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," Culpepper said.
Culpepper said, without citing anyone by name, that he was told he'd get a chance with some teams this season when other quarterbacks got injured. Friends, family members and "league personnel" also advised him, Culpepper said, to continue waiting for a chance and postponing any decision on retirement.
Sometime in the past six days, though, Culpepper's mind was made up.
"I want to thank my family and my fans for their unwavering belief in me as a person and a player," Culpepper said. "I embraced both the peaks and the valleys of the game and my career. I am a better person today as a direct result of the experience of playing in the NFL. I can now focus on the enjoyment of watching some of the greatest athletes in the world play the game I love without the distraction of waiting for those elusive return phone calls."
Copyright 2008 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Garrett spurns Ravens, Falcons to remain Cowboys coordinator
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Sitting in the atrium of Dallas Cowboys headquarters, at the same table where Wade Phillips, Bill Parcells and several predecessors have given their daily briefings for years, Jason Garrett felt comfortable right away.
"I just want to start by saying I'm awfully excited to be sitting in this chair," Garrett said.
No, Garrett wasn't being introduced as Phillips' replacement. He was merely explaining Thursday why he decided to pull out of consideration for coaching jobs with Baltimore and Atlanta to remain offensive coordinator in Dallas.
Still, the symbolism was hard to miss -- especially for a guy who has been viewed the coach-in-waiting since he rejoined the organization last year.
Garrett held a news conference to discuss his decision to stay, which included a promotion to assistant head coach and, presumably, a raise, perhaps approaching the $3 million per season made by Phillips. He insisted that he seriously considered the other jobs and didn't just see what was out there for the experience of going through the process.
They weren't exercises," he said. "They were great opportunities. ... I think maybe this decision to stay here has a lot more to do with the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 and what the Dallas Cowboys can be in 2008."
Garrett gave thoughtful answers to all questions but one. Asked if he was promised he'd replace Phillips, Garrett said, "No," then turned his head to seek a question from the other side of the room.
League rules prevent team owner Jerry Jones from anointing Garrett as the heir to Phillips, but the way things have played out sure seems to indicate the likelihood.
After all, Jones hired Garrett before hiring Phillips last year. And when Garrett returned Wednesday night from visits with the Ravens and Falcons, he huddled with Jones to figure out his next move. Hours later, he opted to stay in Dallas, being part of a club that just went 13-3 and sent seven offensive players to the Pro Bowl.
"We're thrilled that Jason will be with the team in 2008 and moving forward," Jones said in a statement. "We believe that what we accomplished in 2007 is just the beginning of many productive years ahead. His vision and direction on the offensive side of the ball will only help us improve and get to where we want to be."
In Garrett's first year of building a game plan and calling plays, the Cowboys averaged the second-most points, third-most yards and fourth-most yards passing in the NFL. Tony Romo shattered team passing records, Terrell Owens set various receiving records and Jason Witten had one of the most prolific seasons by a tight end in league history. Running back Marion Barber even made the Pro Bowl despite being a backup.
"We made great strides this year," Garrett said. "We didn't achieve all of our goals, but we're heading in the right direction. When (wife) Brill and I looked at each other we said, 'Boy, we have a great chance here in Dallas."'
Phillips said the importance of having both coordinators back is something "I don't think you can emphasize enough."
"That familiarity allows us to build upon what we were able to teach last year and puts us so far ahead of where we were at this time a year ago," he said. "The players learned and accepted two new philosophies on both sides of the ball last year. We will now be able to build upon that."
Tony Sparano, who had been Dallas' assistant head coach and line coach, was hired as the Dolphins coach on Wednesday. He worked closely with Garrett last season, helping ease him into the coordinator's job. Replacing Sparano -- and, perhaps, other coaches who follow him to Miami -- is next on Jones' offseason to-do list.
Phillips said the hiring of a line coach would happen "real quickly." A front-runner is Hudson Houck, who had the job from 1993-2001. He became available when Parcells took over the Dolphins and swept out the assistants.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Cowboys QB better not stumble come Sunday
Tread lightly, people.
Even Samson and Delilah weren't subjected to this much pregame hype.
But if you're into unhappy endings, then by all means, buy into it. Root against Tony Romo and his temptress, Jessica Simpson, to get what's coming to them when New York visits Dallas on Sunday. Imagine that: fiddling with a starlet on a sun-splashed beach in Mexico while the playbook burned to be read.
Besides, Romo is already set up for the fall. The numbers say he rarely plays well after Dec. 1. he still has last season's playoff clunker rattling around his brain and now, in case you somehow missed it, he's got a girlfriend. Being distracted is not a sin, but apparently there's no convincing some people.
So if you're one of them, if you think the quarterback of the everything-is-big-in-Texas Dallas Cowboys has to be just as bland as every other QB in the NFL, then hope that Romo plays really lousy or better yet, that he loses the game on a last-second gaffe of his own making. Again.
Me?
I hope he brings the house down.
I hope beats the Giants' Eli Manning in a fireworks display, capping a five-TD evening with a sideline-to-sideline, wild-hare scramble into the end zone that brings a delirious crowd to its feet and rips off the rest of the roof covering Cowboys Stadium.
Either way, let's be clear about this much: The outcome will have a lot more to do with whether the injured Terrell Owens is on the field than whether Simpson is in the stands. You might not know that from the way Romo's little excursion to Cancun stole the headlines earlier this week, but he does.
"I know what I needed to get myself in a position to hopefully be successful," Romo said Wednesday, while videos of the canoodling couple continued to ping across the Internet.
"You know, people asking for tickets, media requests, all these things during the weekend -- I was able to put the phone aside and get myself ready and watch some football for two straight days. It was really fun and exciting."
Romo is approaching a critical juncture in his career. He hardly needs reminding. He has yet to win a playoff game and he owes Dallas for fumbling one away last season, when he couldn't get the ball down for a chip-shot field goal against Seattle.
Worse, Romo is mired in his second straight late-season slide. As the mercury drops, so does his quarterback rating. He's 15-3 through the first three months of the season, and 3-6 afterward. And teams like the Giants, that specialize in bringing a big, punishing pass rush, present particular problems.
They force Romo from the pocket -- from which he's sometimes only too happy to roam -- and into big mistakes or great plays. That's why his old coach, Bill Parcells, got used to watching the end of games with his fingers covering his eyes. But that's who Romo is. He welcomes the risk almost as much as the reward. He understands it comes with the territory.
Besides, what was he supposed to do with a weekend off and orders from his current coach, Wade Phillips, to "get off your feet and forget football"? Study more game film in a darkened room with a cold towel on his head while ocean waves lapped nearby and Simpson beckoned?
This is just as much about Romo's offensive line and running back Marion Barber showing up as it is about Romo being able to blow kisses toward the luxury box where Simpson is stashed. If the Cowboys want the cold-blooded, efficient passer who piles up numbers from the pocket in the first three months of the season, then they need to protect Romo and provide him with options, especially if Owens is too hobbled to stretch the New York defense.
He'll be the same guy either way. Which means if things break down, Romo will revert to the swashbuckling guy he's always been. Having a very demanding girlfriend isn't new and neither is the pressure. Back in November, when Romo was still being linked to Carrie Underwood and Britney Spears and before he settled on Simpson, Cowboys owner Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave him a new contract and a warning: "I tell you this, Tony, sometimes, they can smell fresh cash."
Well, Romo got around to spending some of it and I say, good for him. There's nothing wrong with having a personality and a little fun and if he winds up regretting it, the very engaging Tony Romeo will morph into the very boring Tony Roboto right before our eyes, and the league will be a lot poorer for it.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Holmgren says playoff-bound Seahawks will play meaningless finale like all others
KIRKLAND, Wash. -- According to coach Mike Holmgren, the Seahawks won't be easing into the playoffs.
The Seahawks coach welcomed his NFC West champions back from a two-day Christmas break on Wednesday with the message that Seattle's veterans will start Sunday at Atlanta. He said he wants them to play it as if it was Week 2 -- not a meaningless game inside a lifeless, half-empty dome, with Seattle already locked into the No. 3 seed for the playoffs that begin the following weekend.
"We kicked it around a lot," Holmgren said of meetings with his assistants on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day weighing maintaining momentum for the postseason versus resting starters to avoid the possibility of injury.
"We're going to play the game just as we've played every game so far this season," he said.
He particularly hopes to continue an improved rushing offense from last weekend's win over Baltimore.
"We want to go into the playoffs as strong as we can be," he said. "We're going to play the guys hard ... and keep our fingers crossed."
He said the only players who may miss the game are the ones already injured. Wide receiver Deion Branch (calf), defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (groin) and Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones (sore shoulder) missed practice Wednesday.
That practice showed Holmgren's decision between playing and preservation, as he substituted more liberally than usual with the starting units.
Then there was his answer to whether quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, now even more important while having a career year for what has become a pass-first offense, would exit the game early in favor of Seneca Wallace if Seattle (10-5) gets a big lead on the Falcons (3-12).
"Probably, yeah," Holmgren said.
"It will be talked about -- not just with us but a lot of teams -- this week on how to do this," Holmgren said, thinking of the perfect New England Patriots and other playoff teams. "I'm not sure there's a right way to do it.
"I believe in momentum going into the playoffs. At the same time, everyone hold their breath that no one gets hurt. So how do you balance that?"
His players say they want business to be usual.
"They pay us to play," veteran guard Chris Gray said.
"Any kind of a letdown, though it might be human nature, is not what you can do at this level, especially with the competition that will happen in the playoffs," Patrick Kerney said.
Kerney holds a half-sack lead on Mario Williams of Houston for the league lead. He is also returning to the city in which he played eight seasons until last spring. It is still home to his charitable foundation and the many friends he hopes to see Saturday afternoon.
"Certainly don't want to let this week pass by," he said. "It will definitely be a special time for me to get back to Atlanta and play."
Shaun Alexander is a native of Florence, Ky., who played at the University of Alabama. He said "pretty much the whole state of Kentucky is invited, and the whole state of Alabama," to Sunday's game. But the running back, coming off his best game since September, is playing with a wrist that he broke in Week 1.
"It's more important just to make sure that we have everything ready to go for the playoffs," he said. "There are little things that we've got to do. But at the same time, the risk (is) always there."
Holmgren's decision may prove to be similar to the one he made two years ago entering the finale at Green Bay. Those Seahawks also had everything they could clinch taken care of, in that case home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Holmgren rested only nicked-up starters, including Jones and cornerback Marcus Trufant. He then pulled the first-team offense at halftime, after Alexander scored his league-record 28th touchdown.
He said it was the only time in his 16 seasons as an NFL head coach he's done that. Seattle lost to Green Bay -- then went on to its first Super Bowl.
Yet Holmgren still doesn't like that he made "wholesale changes" for a meaningless game.
"We were able to keep guys healthy, but that particular Sunday wasn't much fun," Holmgren said.
"I'm going to push them hard, just like I always do. And I'm going to go at the game hard and try to set an example that way."
He said the competitor in him, in anybody, mandates that.
"Last night, we were playing a game my kids got for Christmas -- Name This Movie. It got a little wild," Holmgren said, shaking his head, flailing his arms. "So it's just how you do stuff."
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Ravens trying to end 8-game skid without several starters
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- The Baltimore Ravens, mired in a record eight-game losing streak, will limp into Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks without several key players.
Coach Brian Billick said middle linebacker Ray Lewis was unlikely to play because of a dislocated finger on his left hand. Tight end Todd Heap is also expected to miss the game, and cornerback Samari Rolle was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, ending his season.
Lewis injured his finger during the second half of the Ravens' 22-16 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins, an injury that split the knuckle and required stitches. Nick Greisen, who has played for the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars, will start in Lewis' place.
"It's not looking good," Billick said Friday after Lewis missed his third day of practice.
Heap has missed eight of the past 10 games with a strained hamstring. If he can't go, he'll be replaced by Daniel Wilcox and Quinn Sypniewski.
Rolle had missed the past two games and will be replaced by rookie cornerback Willie Gaston in an ailing defensive backfield. Corey Ivy is already filling in for starting cornerback Chris McAlister, who is on injured reserve with a strained knee.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Roethlisberger misses practice again
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missed practice again Thursday because of a sore right shoulder, with Charlie Batch running the starting offense in his place.
On Tuesday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger's problem wasn't a major one and, "I don't want to make more out of it than what it is."
The Steelers haven't updated Roethlisberger's condition since then. Tomlin said Roethlisberger's status would be updated Friday.
It is common for Steelers players who have relatively minor injuries to miss a day or two of practice, then take part in the final practice of the week Friday and play on Sunday.
Batch hasn't started a game since the 2006 opener, when he threw three touchdown passes in a 28-17 victory over Miami. Roethlisberger, who missed that game after having appendicitis, has started each of the Steelers' 28 games since then.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
Bears QB Grossman injured
LANDOVER, MARYLAND (TICKER) -- Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman left in the first quarter of Thursday's game against the Washington Redskins due to a left knee injury.
Grossman was hit low by Washington defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin on a passing play with 10:53 remaining in the opening quarter.
"Rex Grossman went down and he has a knee injury, that's about all we know right now," Bears coach Lovie Smith said.
Grossman was replaced by Brian Griese and will not return to the game.
Copyright 2007 PA SportsTicker. All Rights Reserved
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