Tensions rise over Culpepper contract

[Moss6]

Vikings: Tensions rise over Culpepper contract

The Vikings, their QB and his agent -- for now -- are at odds over promises that might or might not have been broken.

Vikings Insider Kevin Seifert, Star Tribune

Last update: January 20, 2006 – 12:46 AM

 

Earlier this month, the phone rang on the second floor of Winter Park. Mason Ashe -- who might no longer be Daunte Culpepper's agent when you read this -- was looking for Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings vice president of football operations.

The conversation, according to those familiar with the situation, was brief. Ashe broached the unseemly topic of negotiating a raise in Culpepper's contract, even after his terrible seven-game performance this season and the horrific injury to his right knee. Brzezinski's response was borderline incredulous: You can't be serious.

Culpepper, ahem, was undaunted. Last week, according to those sources, Culpepper circulated a letter to key members of the organization, including owner Zygi Wilf. Acting independently of Ashe, Culpepper requested a face-to-face meeting with them all, hoping a direct appeal would jumpstart discussions. When Culpepper arrived at the scheduled meeting last Thursday, only Brzezinski was present. Again, the answer was no.

The series of events has manufactured a crossroads for the Vikings and their franchise player. Is Culpepper engineering his departure from Minnesota? Have the Vikings reneged on a promise to upgrade his contract? Or has Culpepper simply received bad advice, and then compounded it by trying to address the situation himself?

All sides were quiet Thursday after published reports indicated a rise of tensions on both sides. During an interview Wednesday, Wilf made a point to praise backup Brad Johnson and emphasized the Vikings' depth at the position. Meanwhile, Ashe told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he expects the Vikings to honor the commitment he claims they made to further restructure the contract.

Wilf and other Vikings officials declined comment Thursday, while Ashe and Culpepper did not return calls. People with knowledge of the situation, however, said Culpepper was livid with Ashe's comments and said he might fire him. Those people also said Culpepper has given no direct indication that he wants to leave the Vikings, but that he remains irked that the team turned down his invitations to the bargaining table.

As of Thursday, the Vikings were not wavering on their plan to pay Culpepper $6 million in bonuses March 14, the last of an $8 million upgrade Wilf granted him last summer. The date of the bonus payout is important; if the Vikings decide to release him prior to it, they could still keep him off the free-agent market for nearly two weeks -- the period when most teams expend the majority of their cap space.

The date of the payout, Culpepper's knee condition, his on-field regression and his alleged involvement in an Oct. 6 sex party have all but eliminated Culpepper's leverage with the team. For that reason, said an agent who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Culpepper's actions seem like a textbook attempt to force a divorce. How else to explain why Culpepper wants a raise of his $2 million base salary for 2006, one that is low for a Pro Bowl quarterback but not for one that threw twice as many interceptions (12) as touchdowns (6) in 2005 before tearing three knee ligaments?

While agreeing to the $8 million bump last summer, Wilf said he would revisit the contract at the end of the season.

"We will consider it on a year-to-year basis," Wilf said in August of Culpepper's original 10-year, $102 million deal. Relative to the business of the NFL, where players' salaries are based almost exclusively on their performance the previous season, no one can blame Wilf for deciding against another raise.

Wilf's ownership group already has treated Culpepper with more respect than some believe he has earned. They have given him liberal use of their private planes, sought him out for personal meetings near his home in Orlando, and even arranged for limited partner Reggie Fowler to be in the recovery room of an Alabama hospital when Culpepper underwent surgery Nov. 15.

In return, Culpepper has turned down the Vikings' request to rehabilitate in Minnesota and then refused to meet face-to-face with new coach Brad Childress.

How will it all turn out? Culpepper has little trade value, and his only leverage is to hold out of minicamps and possibly training camp -- even after receiving the $6 million bonus.

It seems the Vikings have two choices. They could cut their losses and jettison him for next to nothing. Or they could cross their fingers and hope Childress, Wilf and other team officials can talk Culpepper off his ledge. In betting terms, it's a bad field either way.

[Fatman]

Vikings: Tensions rise over Culpepper contract

The Vikings, their QB and his agent -- for now -- are at odds over promises that might or might not have been broken.

Vikings Insider Kevin Seifert, Star Tribune

Last update: January 20, 2006 – 12:46 AM

 

Earlier this month, the phone rang on the second floor of Winter Park. Mason Ashe -- who might no longer be Daunte Culpepper's agent when you read this -- was looking for Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings vice president of football operations.

The conversation, according to those familiar with the situation, was brief. Ashe broached the unseemly topic of negotiating a raise in Culpepper's contract, even after his terrible seven-game performance this season and the horrific injury to his right knee. Brzezinski's response was borderline incredulous: You can't be serious.

Culpepper, ahem, was undaunted. Last week, according to those sources, Culpepper circulated a letter to key members of the organization, including owner Zygi Wilf. Acting independently of Ashe, Culpepper requested a face-to-face meeting with them all, hoping a direct appeal would jumpstart discussions. When Culpepper arrived at the scheduled meeting last Thursday, only Brzezinski was present. Again, the answer was no.

The series of events has manufactured a crossroads for the Vikings and their franchise player. Is Culpepper engineering his departure from Minnesota? Have the Vikings reneged on a promise to upgrade his contract? Or has Culpepper simply received bad advice, and then compounded it by trying to address the situation himself?

All sides were quiet Thursday after published reports indicated a rise of tensions on both sides. During an interview Wednesday, Wilf made a point to praise backup Brad Johnson and emphasized the Vikings' depth at the position. Meanwhile, Ashe told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he expects the Vikings to honor the commitment he claims they made to further restructure the contract.

Wilf and other Vikings officials declined comment Thursday, while Ashe and Culpepper did not return calls. People with knowledge of the situation, however, said Culpepper was livid with Ashe's comments and said he might fire him. Those people also said Culpepper has given no direct indication that he wants to leave the Vikings, but that he remains irked that the team turned down his invitations to the bargaining table.

As of Thursday, the Vikings were not wavering on their plan to pay Culpepper $6 million in bonuses March 14, the last of an $8 million upgrade Wilf granted him last summer. The date of the bonus payout is important; if the Vikings decide to release him prior to it, they could still keep him off the free-agent market for nearly two weeks -- the period when most teams expend the majority of their cap space.

The date of the payout, Culpepper's knee condition, his on-field regression and his alleged involvement in an Oct. 6 sex party have all but eliminated Culpepper's leverage with the team. For that reason, said an agent who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Culpepper's actions seem like a textbook attempt to force a divorce. How else to explain why Culpepper wants a raise of his $2 million base salary for 2006, one that is low for a Pro Bowl quarterback but not for one that threw twice as many interceptions (12) as touchdowns (6) in 2005 before tearing three knee ligaments?

While agreeing to the $8 million bump last summer, Wilf said he would revisit the contract at the end of the season.

"We will consider it on a year-to-year basis," Wilf said in August of Culpepper's original 10-year, $102 million deal. Relative to the business of the NFL, where players' salaries are based almost exclusively on their performance the previous season, no one can blame Wilf for deciding against another raise.

Wilf's ownership group already has treated Culpepper with more respect than some believe he has earned. They have given him liberal use of their private planes, sought him out for personal meetings near his home in Orlando, and even arranged for limited partner Reggie Fowler to be in the recovery room of an Alabama hospital when Culpepper underwent surgery Nov. 15.

In return, Culpepper has turned down the Vikings' request to rehabilitate in Minnesota and then refused to meet face-to-face with new coach Brad Childress.

How will it all turn out? Culpepper has little trade value, and his only leverage is to hold out of minicamps and possibly training camp -- even after receiving the $6 million bonus.

It seems the Vikings have two choices. They could cut their losses and jettison him for next to nothing. Or they could cross their fingers and hope Childress, Wilf and other team officials can talk Culpepper off his ledge. In betting terms, it's a bad field either way.

 

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I saw this yesterday...lot of nerve for a guy with a wasteland of a right knee. Looking more and more like the Inferno is going to be out of MN next year...

[Caveman_Nick]

cut the Opraher. He's done.

[JoJoTheWebToedBoy]

cut the Opraher.  He's done.

 

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I agree. I have always thought he was over-rated. And after this year, he should be hoping that the Vikings can't come up with a loophole inhis contract that would allow them to reduce his pay.

[Cunning Runt]

Interesting...

 

Almost took him in a dynasty draft a couple days ago. Time will tell if that was a good thing or bad thing. I still think he's got the goods to be a top flight QB (at least in fantasy terms - which is all I really care about).

[Caveman_Nick]

Interesting...

 

Almost took him in a dynasty draft a couple days ago. Time will tell if that was a good thing or bad thing. I still think he's got the goods to be a top flight QB (at least in fantasy terms - which is all I really care about).

 

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I have a few problems with C-pep. I can't say he'll never be successful, because he probably will be, but I don't think he'll be successful in 2006.

 

The first thing is his knee. RBs generally are not productive during their first season back from reconstructive knee surgery. A good deal of Culpepper's effectiveness comes from his ability to run. I don't see him having this as a real weapon next year. Teams will encourage situations where he runs, because if he hurts his knee then that hurts his team's chances for that game.

 

The second thing is his hands. He's a fumbler because he has small hands. This problem will be magnified with his downgraded mobility.

 

The third thing is that he still has yet to perform on any kind of a consistant basis without Randy Moss. Maybe he will over time, but last year and in previous seasons when Moss was out Culpepper has performed consistantly poorly. The Vikes need to focus on a better running scheme and on finding ways to get culpepper throwing short, quick routes. That will serve to rebuild his confidence and effectiveness until later in the season when they can open it up a little. Basically Culpepper has to try and be Brad Johnson to start the season, and grow out of it.

[Ursa Majoris]

Basically Culpepper has to try and be Brad Johnson to start the season, and grow out of it.

 

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You make valid points, but why would the Vikings try to turn Culpepper into Brad Johnson when they already have Brad Johnson?

 

Note - I've always been a staunch supporter of Culpepper even though I'm not a Vikes fan - I think he gets a lot of stick here that, um, is nothing to do with football. This latest stuff about refusing to come to MN or meet with the coach is indefensible, though.

[Outshined]

To me it sounds like Culpepper is pissed at his agent. Zygi upgraded his contract last fall to give more guaranteed money, 8 million to be exact. They told him they would look at it again in the spring. He is going to get another 6 million in bonusus this March. When they told him no they are not going to redo his contract, he probably feels let down by the team and that maybe mad at his agent for going the wrong way in trying to get a deal done.

 

Zygi has said all along that he plans on paying out the bonus to Culpepper, but why would Culpepper jeopardize that 6 million bonus payment?

[Savage Beatings]

I think Culpepper is probably the most talented QB that the Vikings have had (possible exception made to Tarkenton)... but he has been acting like a child. Beyond eveything mentioned in the article, the thing that really ticked me off is the fact that Culpepper all but disappeared from the Vikings sidelines after he was injured. Way to support your team Dante!

 

I hate to see him go, but if he doesn't get his mind right then they should politely show him the door.