Fear not Raider fans, Culpepper has arrived
Raider fans, forget about signing JaMarcus Russell. The Raiders
don’t need to sign the No. 1 pick out of LSU to put a winning
product on the field this year.
They already have the original JaMarcus Russell anyway in Daunte
Culpepper, who the Raiders were able to pick up Aug. 1.
Culpepper is 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds with a cannon arm and 9
years of experience under his belt. Russell is just two inches
taller and 10 pounds lighter.
Fear not Raider fans, Culpepper has arrived
Raider fans, forget about signing JaMarcus Russell. The Raiders don’t need to sign the No. 1 pick out of LSU to put a winning product on the field this year.
They already have the original JaMarcus Russell anyway in Daunte Culpepper, who the Raiders were able to pick up Aug. 1.
Culpepper is 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds with a cannon arm and 9 years of experience under his belt. Russell is just two inches taller and 10 pounds lighter.
I say, forget about the 22-year-old rookie with the swollen ego. Forget about the unproven kid who wants some $60 million to suit up for the Silver & Black. Stick with the guy with the “bionic” knee and a proven track record. He’ll do just fine behind this year’s beefed-up offensive line.
And quit worrying about Culpepper’s “bad” knees, too. With the way the 30-year-old former Pro Bowl quarterback of the Vikings looked in last Saturday’s exhibition game against the 49ers, it’s clear that Culpepper is the only guy who should get the nod for the starting job.
Not only is his arm strong enough to rival Russell’s, his rebuilt knee appears to have healed completely, too. So far this exhibition season he is 11-for-20 for 153 yards and two touchdowns – and he’s had no problems rolling out, scrambling and taking off down field. Against the Niners, Culpepper threw for 75 yards and picked up his first two touchdowns of the season. At one point in that game, Culpepper scrambled 13 yards down field to convert a third down, cutting on his rebuilt knee to elude a defender.
Even if the $60-million dollar man’s agents reach an agreement with Al Davis – which they probably will any day now – stick with Culpepper anyway, at least this season then let Andrew Walter and Josh McCown battle it out for the No. 2 spot.
With a healthy Culpepper in there, the Raiders are going to get exactly what attracted them to Russell in the first place – a big, strong-arm quarterback with a rifle arm. Believe me, a healthy Culpepper a year ago in a Raiders jersey would have saved Art Shell his job.
This year, 32-year-old rookie coach Lane Kiffin should be able to reap the benefits of an experienced veteran such as Culpepper in the huddle and so will the members of the Raider Nation.
One last thought, what is it anyway about the Raiders and old Vikings? Jeff George, Randy Moss and now Culpepper. The other two didn’t work out but Culpepper looks as if he could be a natural fit in Oaktown.
