NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?! - 08/09 Season

[-Jrabbit]

Orton is down...

[SlowwHand]

Grossman makes his appearance. 3.62 yards per passing attempt, but he gets them a score.

[-Jrabbit]

Not-too-terrible Rex showed up, and the defense showed up for the 2nd half. Bears escape with a win.

[Lord Avalon]

Lions find another way to lose.

And ...

Culpepper to join Lions

John Niyo / The Detroit News

CHICAGO -- The Lions will have a new quarterback when the team returns home from Sunday's game in Chicago.

Veteran free agent Daunte Culpepper has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Lions after visiting the team for a workout Tuesday in Allen Park. Terms of the deal haven't been disclosed, but the former Pro Bowl quarterback is expected to join his new team Monday. He will wear jersey No. 11 for the Lions.

Culpepper, 31, has been out of football since last winter, and two months ago he announced his unofficial retirement after he was unable to find the right opportunity as a free agent. Two weeks ago, however, he announced his intention to play again this season, citing "unfinished business" in the NFL.

And after cancelling a scheduled visit with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, saying he had a better opportunity elsewhere, Culpepper turned to Detroit, where he impressed the Lions' staff with his workout. The two sides initiated contract negotiations -- Culpepper serves as his own agent -- and came to terms on a deal this week. Culpepper didn't respond to a message left for him Saturday afternoon. Lions chief operating officer Tom Lewand declined to comment.

A first-round draft pick in 1999, Culpepper passed for 22,422 yards and 142 touchdowns over nine seasons with Minnesota, Miami and Oakland. But he suffered a serious knee injury in 2005 that signaled the beginning of the end of his career with the Vikings, who traded him to Miami for a second-round pick in 2006.

He played in just four games for Nick Saban and the Dolphins in 2006 due to continuing knee problems. After getting released by the Dolphins, Culpepper signed with Oakland as a free agent and started six games before a hamstring injury effectively ended his season.

This spring, he met with the Green Bay Packers, but declined a one-year offer reportedly worth $1 million to be Aaron Rodgers' backup. Culpepper also worked out for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were looking for a backup with Charlie Batch on injured reserve, but he decided against signing for the veteran's minimum ($730,000) without a roster guarantee.

The Lions weren't the only team interested in Culpepper last week. After abruptly cancelling a planned visit with the Chiefs, Culpepper also heard from the Dallas Cowboys, who have struggled with starter Tony Romo out with a broken finger.

But the opportunity to start -- and not just in 2008 -- was part of the allure in Detroit. The Lions lost their starter for the season when they placed Jon Kitna on injured reserve three weeks ago. Fourth-year pro Dan Orlovsky has been adequate in his first three NFL starts since -- all losses -- but is in the final year of his contract.

Coach Rod Marinelli didn't say much about the Lions' plans involving Culpepper on Friday. But when asked if Orlovsky's performance Sunday against the Bears would play a role in the Lions' decision, Marinelli said, "That would not influence good or bad what our decisions will be, or what (Culpepper's) decisions would be."

When asked if the team had ruled out signing Culpepper, though, Marinelli said, "Oh, no."

Added Marinelli: "We're looking at good players that are out there that can help us now."

Signing Culpepper can't be good news for Orlovsky. But it's unclear how it'll affect the immediate future of backup Drew Stanton, a 2007 second-round draft pick out of Michigan State who has yet to take a snap in an NFL regular-season game.

Third-string quarterback Drew Henson will be waived to make room for Culpepper on the roster.

[Lord Avalon]

Will Allen gets pick six for Miami! Up 13-0 over Denver, 10 pts off turnovers.

[Guynemer]

Sigh...

[SlowwHand]

I can't imagine any team signing Brad Johnson next year. I'm hard-pressed to imagine the Cowboys keeping him for the rest of this year.

[-Jrabbit]

Most of us couldn't believe they didn't sign a competent backup in the off-season. There were plenty of guys out there, guys with skills who would kill to ride the pines on a Super Bowl contender.

[Lord Avalon]

Dolphins were kicking a lot of FGs, but won the turnover battle, 3 picks to 1, and the game, 26-17. After the Broncos got a quick TD in the 4th, the Dolphins had a 15-play, 80-yd, 8-min TD drive to ice the game.


How about that, the Bungles got a win.

What happened to the Jags & Seahawks this year?

[reismark]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon
What happened to the Jags & Seahawks this year?

No clue about the Jaguars, but the Seahawks haven't been able to keep any skill players on the offense healthy all season. I believe they've started at least 10 different wide receivers, and they were on their third-string QB at one point as well.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Falcons held the Raiders to 77 yards... TOTAL. In the first half, Oakland had negative yards and no first downs. And this isn't even that good of a defense

[-Jrabbit]

It's amazing that Oakland has actually won TWO games.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It it actually amazing that they don't have the worst record in the league (yes, I even think the Lions are better).

[Ming]

The Lions, while they still suck, have been getting better as the year goes along.

The Raiders seem to be getting worse (which is really tough considering how bad they started)

[Imran Siddiqui]

The even more amusing part (to me) is that the Raiders were at home!