Thursday Notes: Culpepper Will Likely Start on Sunday

by Sean Yuille on Nov 6, 2008 12:15 AM EST in Notes

The odds of Daunte Culpepper starting against Jacksonville on Sunday are very, very good right now. Culpepper reportedly took the majority of the snaps with the starters in practice on Wednesday, and Dan Orlovsky's injury seems to be more serious than was originally reported. Orlovsky is planning on visiting a hand specialist in New York today, leading me to believe that he may end up on the injured reserve pretty soon. There is no way he will play on Sunday since he won't even be able to practice this week, so all signs point to Culpepper.
Dominic Raiola has started 104 games in a row. That is a very impressive streak for anyone, let alone an offensive lineman. Unfortunately, that streak is likely going to come to an end on Sunday. Raiola has a cast on his fractured right thumb and is expected to miss a few weeks. Raiola wants to play and simply snap with his left hand, but I highly doubt the coaches would let him do that.
According to Pro Football Talk, Daunte Culpepper's base salary for this year will be $343,529, which is prorated since he joined the Lions in the 10th week of the season. Culpepper will also get a $40,000 signing bonus and can make an additional $1 million "if he participates in five percent of the snaps and if he or the team improves in one of various performance categories." Next March Culpepper will receive a $2.5 million roster bonus if he is still on the team and is scheduled to make a base salary of $2.5 million.

Culpepper represents himself (is his own agent) and did a great job of negotiating this deal. The $1 million incentive is pretty surprising since it sounds so easily attainable, but I guess that is the Lions for you.
The Lions released defensive back Travis Key from the practice squad and re-signed safety LaMarcus Hicks to fill the open spot. Hicks was released on Monday to make room on the roster for Daunte Culpepper, and if Dan Orlovsky were to go on the IR, chances are Hicks would be promoted back to the active roster.
For anyone in a fantasy football league, don't forget that there is a game tonight. The Browns and Broncos play at 8:15 p.m. ET on the NFL Network, so make sure to adjust your lineups before then.

0 recs | Comment 5 comments |

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

fantastic

Drew Stanton has to practice more, but dig up an injury-wrecked, 31-year old guy that hasn’t been worth a damn since 2004 and practice just isn’t even necessary! By George, he’s just GOT IT!

This team can “go bite the big one.” I so rarely get a chance to use that, I just had to take advantage.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Nov 6, 2008 5:30 AM EST 0 recs

I never thought I would say this but reading this blog every morning while pretending to work has made me realize that I JUST DON’T CARE about this team anymore. I agree with DREWSLIONS post on another thread 100% – we can’t draft or acquire a QB who will just “manage a game” we need a “game changer”. Now, of course, that is no easy proposition finding a Joe Montana or John Elway but Culpepper is just not the answer long-term for this team.

PS – I say I don’t care but I will still watch the game in NYC on Sunday. I’m just frustrated like the rest of Lions fans.

by NYCLionsfan on Nov 6, 2008 8:27 AM EST 0 recs

I’d pay the guy a millioins dollars to get us a win right now. I mean, 0-16 would guarantee the first pick, but it would also guarantee a lifetime of ridicule, something the Buccaneers avoid because they were a first year expansion team when they did their 0-fer.

5 percent of snaps, at the time they signed him, might have been a reasonable hurdle, if they were expecting Orlovsky, and then Stanton to be the guys for the rest of the year, and
were planning to have Daunte around as a third string qb. Now….oh well, Matt Millen’s ghost still haunts this team, it might take a couple of years to get the stench out completely….

by ahtrap on Nov 6, 2008 1:00 PM EST 0 recs

Jaguars are going to hammer us

So let’s look at it from Jacksonville’s perspective. The offense is going to be led by a has-been quarterback who knows one week’s worth of plays. Normally it takes two years to install an offense. It takes at least a pre-season to learn an offense that is varied enough to do well in a game.

They have a crappy o-line too. And one of their experienced veterans, Raiola, is going to be out with an injury.

So the plan will be to blitz every play. Don’t give Culpepper time to think. He won’t know where anyone is to throw it to when he is under pressure.

And, of course, the Lion’s defense this year speaks for itself. 7 of 8 quarterbacks have had career days against the Lions. So all the Jaguar’s coaches will have to say is ‘this is your big chance to turn in a contract impacting performance’. Talk about motivation!

by birdseed on Nov 6, 2008 2:59 PM EST 0 recs