QB Culpepper To Work Out For Raiders

NAPA, Calif. (July 31, 2007) — Free-agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper will work out for the Oakland Raiders on July 31, two weeks after being released by the Miami Dolphins.

Culpepper held a private workout for a member of the Raiders’ personnel department in Florida on July 30. The 30-year-old quarterback did well enough there to persuade the team to fly him out to California for an additional workout.

“Anytime that we have a chance to investigate something that can help our team win, were going to do it,” Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. “Obviously Daunte is something that we’ve been looking into for a little bit. This is kind of the climax of it, working him out tomorrow.”

Culpepper began 2006 as Miami’s starter but had trouble with his mobility and was sacked 21 times in the first four games. The Dolphins shut him down so he could continue rehabbing and eventually placed him on injured reserve. When they acquired Trent Green in a trade with Kansas City this offseason, Culpepper became expendable.

The Dolphins tried unsuccessfully to trade Culpepper a year after acquiring him from Minnesota. When Miami could find no takers, the former Pro Bowl quarterback was released on July 17. Culpepper met with Tampa Bay two days later but did not receive a contract offer from the Bucs.

The Raiders have an interest in Culpepper in part due to the holdout of No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. Russell has yet to sign a contract with Oakland, and Kiffin indicated negotiations between the two sides had slowed.

Kiffin acknowledged that Russell’s situation was a precursor to bringing Culpepper in for a workout.

“Sure it is,” Kiffin said. “You’ve gotta protect your team (and) put yourselves in the best position to win and make sure that you have the right depth and competition at each spot.”