Author: David Shama

Don’t write Daunte Culpepper’s NFL “obituary” yet.  That’s the advice of a former NFL team executive who spoke earlier in the week about Culpepper and his situation in Miami.   

The ex-Viking quarterback certainly hasn’t had a honeymoon start in Miami.  Coming off of major knee rehabilitation and a trade to the Dolphins, Culpepper has shown limited mobility.  He has been sacked 21 times and also suffered a shoulder injury.   

It’s not even clear now if the former Pro Bowl quarterback will be the Dolphins starter.  Culpepper didn’t play last Sunday, much to the delight of some Dolphins fans who have been booing the man-child quarterback.  Culpepper, 6-4, 265, has been unimpressive statistically, throwing two touchdown passes and three interceptions in limited playing time. 

He won’t play next Sunday because he started a rehab program for his right knee and his return date is unknown.  Joey Harrington, a major disappointment during four seasons in Detroit, replaces Culpepper for the Dolphins who have a 1-4 record.  

All of this doesn’t mean Culpepper, 29, is ready for the old folks home.  The former NFL executive argues it can take two years for a player to recover from a major injury and return to normal performance.  “It sounds like he’s not 100% in terms of his ability and he’s going into a new system,” the source said.  

Culpepper is not only learning a new offense and playing for a “demanding” coach in Nick Saban, but he’s also working with a “struggling” offensive line, the source said.  “The offensive line is a weak leak,” he added.  

An indication of the ineffective line is the performance of running back Ronnie Brown.  He’s averaging 3.3 yards per carry after averaging 4.4 last season. 

How strange is it that both Culpepper and Randy Moss, neither of whom is yet 30 years old and once were the faces of the Vikings franchise, are playing for other teams and currently stalled out in team and individual glory?  “It is interesting, but that’s the modern day NFL (with salary cap and player movement),” the source said.

It won’t take long for the talk show hosts or critical columnists to start speculating about Dwane Casey’s job security if the 2006-2007 Timberwolves play like the 33-49 bunch of last season.  That was Casey’s first team as an NBA head coach and the Wolves’ failings included losing second half leads, some late in the fourth quarter.  The Wolves also lost 18 and won 11 in games decided by six points or less. 

If this season’s version of the Wolves stumbles in wins, losses and blown leads the Casey critics will surface and at least some will suggest assistant coach Randy Wittman be promoted to head coach.  Wittman, who was on previous Minnesota coaching staffs from 1994-1999 and 2001-2005, is back with the Wolves after Casey shook up his staff during the off season.   

Wittman is popular with local media and fans, and was head coach of the Cleveland Cavs for two seasons.  Before accepting the invitation to return here he and Casey discussed the possibility Wittman’s name could be included in coaching change speculation. 

“Dwane and I talked about that when he called me and asked if I had any interest in coming back,” Wittman said. “For me and for my career the best thing that could happen is we win 50 plus games (and) you make the playoffs. That means that maybe me coming back here helped in a certain manner.  That’s all you can focus on.  

“I told him if he is the least bit uncomfortable with that I would walk right out the door and have no hard feelings and completely understand that.  But No. 1 you (Casey) have to be comfortable with that and he said he extremely was. That’s all I am here for.  I am not here for anything else but to help Dwane become a better coach.” 

Ask Wittman about his role with the Wolves and he talks about the close losses the Wolves experienced last season.  “I want to help Dwane as much as I can in close situations (so) that he doesn’t feel the weight of the world is on him,” he answered. “That there is somebody that can give him a different perspective other than the one maybe he is thinking about. As a head coach that’s kind of what you are looking for. You have an idea of how you want to attack but you want to hear other people say, ‘What about this coach’? You might not ever think of that. That’s kind of what I hope to bring to him.”

The winner of the annual Gopher-Badger football game has also won Paul Bunyan’s Axe since 1948. Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema, at 36 the second youngest Division I-A head coach, said earlier this week rivalries like Saturday’s game with Minnesota provide “an extra incentive to play.”   

 “I am a very firm believer in focusing week to week. …I know one of the things I brought up to our guys on (last) Saturday was the axe,” Bielema said. “It’s an important thing to our guys and hopefully we will be able to carry that through this weekend.” 

The Badgers have won the famed trophy nine of the last 11 games.  Wisconsin has momentum going into this game having won five of six games, losing only to No. 4 ranked Michigan. The Gophers, 2-4, lost a self declared must-win game last Saturday to Penn State. 

If the Badgers need more incentive this weekend than the axe and staying in the race for the Big Ten championship and a top bowl game, they don’t have to look far to find it.  Wisconsin is celebrating homecoming and a statue of former coach Barry Alvarez (grand marshal for the homecoming parade) will be unveiled outside Camp Randall Stadium on Friday. 

Sounds like a perfect setting for a Gopher upset.