Lions Agree to Two-Year Deal with Daunte Culpepper

by Sean Yuille on Nov 1, 2008 6:16 PM EDT in Detroit Lions Roster

According to ESPN's John Clayton, the Lions have agreed to a two-year deal with quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

Culpepper canceled a scheduled trip to Kansas City to instead visit the Lions earlier in the week.

Culpepper left the Lions on Tuesday without a deal but kept in touch, trying to find a home for this season and next season. After several days of negotiations, Culpepper agreed that Detroit was the best fit for him.

It is expected that Culpepper will officially sign with the Lions on Monday and join the team then. The fact that this is a two-year deal tells us quite a bit about the Lions' current quarterback situation. The coaches obviously see Culpepper as someone that can help at QB the rest of this season and then can be around in case he is needed next year as well. I have to say that I hate this deal and don't think Culpepper will do anything worthwhile, but that's just me. Leave your thoughts on this signing in the comments section.

Poll

Do you think signing Daunte Culpepper was a good move?

Yes, Culpepper can become the starter for the rest of this season and next year

159 votes

No, signing Culpepper is not going to make this team any better than it is

128 votes

287 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I don't think he will help

Culpepper can’t come in, learn the offense, and start games this year. And I don’t see him starting next year, because he is really not starting QB quality. The Lions still need to go out and get a starter for next year, because Stanton’s probably not the answer either. The front office is really just grasping at straws right now.

I do like the fact they are actually trying to turn things around though. Whether or not this move actually helps, it’s better than just sitting and not doing anything, which was the norm for the past seven years.

by The Prodigy on Nov 1, 2008 7:02 PM EDT reply actions

great idea

i might be in the minority here, but i think this is a great idea

as a veteran, he immediately brings more to the table then kitna ever did

by youtalkintome7 on Nov 1, 2008 7:38 PM EDT reply actions

Veteran presence but, IMO, that's it.

I may be wrong, but I don’t think he’s been healthy for a while. BUT, if he could get into a groove with CJ like he had with Moss in MN…that would be very, very good. Now they just need to get Smith into the game more.

"It's probably similar to being in New York City and having a cab driver behind you and you're driving too slow. It's not the most pleasant thing."

Barry Sanders, on what defensive backs who played against him compared him to.

by Jettero2112 on Nov 1, 2008 8:39 PM EDT reply actions

Nothing to lose

I really like this signing. Remember, this is a still young (ish), former Pro Bowl and MVP caliber player. When he was in Minnesota, he had a tall, freakishly athletic, speedy wideout who he made a superstar in Randy Moss. He never had anyone close in Miami or Oakland, but now he has CJ and a decent WR group, and is one more year removed from his horrible surgery. If he has a decent work effort, I think this could be a very good signing for the Lions.

Plus, what else do they have to play for? They’re clearly not gonna start Stanton. I’d much prefer Culpepper to Orlovsky.

by sgdbw90 on Nov 2, 2008 2:47 AM EDT reply actions

Here is a better question (or three):

How does this hurt the Lions? What is he going to do, cost them a game? Some tell me, how is this a bad move for Detroit?

The way I se it, the Lions have nothing to lose in this deal, at least figuratively. If he is productive and helps the team, then they can keep him. If not, then cut him and give him his guarateed money. This is a win-win for Detroit.

by TonyDC on Nov 2, 2008 9:55 AM EST reply actions

My only problem is that Stanton will take a backseat now

We can pretty much write him off for good.

Check out Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Nov 2, 2008 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

He can wait another year

I kind of like this signing because I see things playing out this way:

Culpepper will start in a few weeks and play out the year for them. The Lions clearly need to build on the lines, and we draft some good beef on the O-line. Culpepper would then, as is his nature, get injured or play his way out of the job midseason next year, allowing Stanton to come in with some better protection than the current line would offer, and with another year of practice under his belt.

Then again, that’s a lot of assumptions. If it doesn’t play out that way, I hate ths deal.

by steveg103 on Nov 2, 2008 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

I agree...

Sean, I totally agree with the disappointment that Stanton will now take a back seat, but I also feel that some of that disappointment should be directed at Stanton too. If he is not progressing then, then he should not play. I mean it wouldn’t make any sense for the coaches to NOT play him if they felt he were ready and could help, their jobs are on the line.

by TonyDC on Nov 2, 2008 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

did we bring Millen back for one day?

by nuftjedi on Nov 2, 2008 4:11 PM EST reply actions

Great teams build from within

If you notice the great teams always had talent “in-house”. Look at Romo in Dallas, Eli in NY, Trent Edwards in Buffalo. We need to draft a Matt Ryan (NOT a Joey Harrington or Andre Ware), or see if Stanton can play. I don’t understand what Culpepper will do. This team isn’t going to make the playoffs next year – Duante is NOT the answer. we need a long-term viable QB that is home grown. Of course, this all starts out with talented talent evaluators – something we don’t have but Tennessee, Pitt, Dallas, NE, Indy, seem to have down.

by NYCLionsfan on Nov 3, 2008 9:31 AM EST reply actions

Where to begin.....

I truely don’t know what to think of this signing. Culpepper to me only brings two things: 1) A verteran presence. 2) A down field arm wich might benifit the lions this season with atleast one win.

On the other hand I have no faith at all that he is the longterm answer. We might be better off putting Stanton in for the rest of the season, and see what he can become. If he can’t do anything then get rid of him.

by mweingartz on Nov 3, 2008 11:10 AM EST reply actions

Culpepper

I was iffy on this move at the start but I think it shows some foresight by the front office honestly. First and foremost it gives them a better starting option at QB than they currently have regardless of the system. Putting Stanton in right now is not going to do him any good, Rod and his crew are not going to be there at the end of this year so what’s the point of him learning a system he’s never going to play in. I’m going to hope that the Coaches in there this year do not ruin his mechanics and natural ability to move the ball forward. Signing Culpepper allows them to develop Drew a little bit more. He was signed to a two year deal so chances are he won’t be with the Lions after the end of next year. He’s a patch. He’s not a fix. Signing him allows them to compete somewhat and they probably signed him for a very small amount of money. The Lions can now focus on the defensive side of the ball and the offensive line. Culpepper when healthy does what a QB for the Lions has needed to do for some time. RUN AWAY FROM DEFENDERS. The OL is terrible and we have guys like Backus and Raiola being paid too much for not really doing their jobs.

Stanton isn’t going to do anything with this team for the rest of the season if put in except get hurt. The line is terrible and they have no running game to keep the defense in check. Nothing to lose with signing culpepper and everything to gain. Who knows maybe he’ll have another one of those years where he throws like 25 TD’s and 5 INT’s again.

by rmatheny on Nov 3, 2008 1:21 PM EST reply actions