Athletes - Daunte Culpepper

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	Athletes - Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Culpepper (born January 28, 1977 in Ocala, Florida) is an American football player and currently is the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. Culpepper was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft (11th overall) out of the University of Central Florida. In 2006, he was traded to the Dolphins in exchange for a second round draft pick. Aside from great arm strength, his quickness and large build (6'4" (193 cm) and 260 lb (118 kg)) are considered a great advantage at his position, allowing him to avoid tackles while passing or running. As he has aged and injuries have taken their toll on him, however, he has had to rely more on his arm than his legs.

Early life

Daunte was born in a jail and raised by a foster mother, Emma Culpepper. They lived in Ocala, Florida, where he attended Vanguard High School.

College career

He struggled to get into college, not being able to get a high enough SAT score. The marquee schools such as Florida backed off from recruiting him when it was thought that he could not make the grade. UCF stayed with him and offered to help tutor him and help him get a high enough SAT score so that he could get into college. He was able to achieve a high enough score through UCF's help and the big football schools came back, however, he kept his loyalty to UCF for sticking to him through the whole time. Although he had a love for baseball, Culpepper committed to the University of Central Florida to play football as quarterback. At UCF, he rewrote mostly all quarterback records (more than 30 in all). He also set an NCAA record for single-season completion percentage at .736, breaking a 15-year-old mark set by Steve Young (.713) and accomplished a feat equaled by only two others in NCAA history when he topped the 10,000 yard passing mark and the 1,000 yard rushing mark in his career. He finished his career sixth on the NCAA's all-time total offense list for all divisions with 12,459 yards and was responsible for 108 career touchdowns (84 passing, 24 rushing).

After his junior season, he was being lured out of the collegiate ranks to enter the draft and join the NFL, but instead returned to UCF to graduate and play his senior year. UCF posted a 9-2 record, losing only to Purdue and Auburn.

NFL career

Daunte was drafted 11th overall in the 1st round by the Minnesota Vikings in 1999, but was the fourth quarterback chosen after Tim Couch (1st), Donovan McNabb (2nd), and Akili Smith (3rd). In his first year, Culpepper saw limited playing time and did not throw a pass.

In 2000, he was named the starting quarterback. He won the first seven games of the year, and helped the Vikings finish 11-5 and lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship game, where they were routed by the New York Giants, 41-0. During the season he passed for 3937 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He also rushed for 470 yards and seven touchdowns. At the end of the year he was selected to his first Pro Bowl.

Daunte struggled over the next two years, 2001 and 2002, while the Vikings were 5-11 in 2001 and 6-10 in 2002.

Culpepper made a comeback in 2003, leading the Vikings to a 9-7 record, although they missed the playoffs. He passed for 3479 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions, which helped him earn his second trip to the Pro Bowl.

In 2004, if not for Peyton Manning, Daunte would have likely been named NFL MVP. He enjoyed his best statistical season as a professional and though the Vikings were only 8-8, they reached the playoffs for the second time with Culpepper. Passing for a league-leading 4717 yards, and Viking-record 39 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions. Culpepper was named to his third career Pro Bowl. Culpepper also broke Dan Marino's NFL record for combined passing and rushing yards, amassing 5,123 total yards.

His first two games of the 2005 season were a disappointment, as the Vikings went 0-2 while Culpepper threw no touchdown passes, eight interceptions, and fumbled twice, but Culpepper rebounded in the third week, throwing for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns while beating the New Orleans Saints 33-16 at home. But in week 4 the Vikings stumbled again as Daunte threw 2 interceptions and lost a fumble in Atlanta, where they lost 30-10. After returning from a bye week in week five, the Vikings were determined to win following a party boat scandal that occurred during the off week. Going into Soldier Field to face the 1-3 Chicago Bears, Daunte started out smooth, with a high completion percentage and drives leading to the redzone, but in the second half, things fell apart. The Bears scored 3 touchdowns and Daunte threw 2 interceptions as the Vikings went on to lose 28-3. On October 30, he suffered a knee injury during a 38-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Culpepper sustained damage to the three major ligaments in the knee: the anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate and medial collateral. He was placed on injured reserve, and is currently undergoing rehabilitation treatment in Florida.

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Athletes - Daunte Culpepper

Early life

College career

NFL career

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