Associated Press 17y

Culpepper to work out in Oakland after private workout in Florida

NFL, Oakland Raiders

NAPA, Calif. -- Free agent quarterback
Daunte Culpepper will
work out for the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday, two weeks after being
released by the Miami Dolphins.

Culpepper held a private workout for a member of the Raiders'
personnel department in Florida on Monday. The 30-year-old
quarterback did well enough there to persuade the team to fly him
out to California for an additional workout.

"Anytime that we have a chance to investigate something that
can help our team win, we're going to do it," Raiders coach Lane
Kiffin said. "Obviously Daunte is something that weve been looking
into for a little bit. This is kind of the climax of it, working
him out tomorrow."

Culpepper began 2006 as Miami's starter but had trouble with his
mobility and was sacked 21 times in the first four games. The
Dolphins shut him down so he could continue rehabbing and
eventually placed him on injured reserve. When they acquired Trent
Green in a trade with Kansas City this offseason, Culpepper became
expendable.

The Dolphins tried unsuccessfully to trade Culpepper a year
after acquiring him from Minnesota. When Miami could find no
takers, the former Pro Bowl quarterback was released on July 17.
Culpepper met with Tampa Bay two days later but did not receive a
contract offer from the Bucs.

The Raiders have an interest in Culpepper in part due to the
holdout of No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. Russell has yet to
sign a contract with Oakland, and Kiffin on Sunday indicated
negotiations between the two sides had slowed.

Kiffin acknowledged that Russell's situation was a precursor to
bringing Culpepper in for a workout.

"Sure it is," Kiffin said. "You've gotta protect your team
[and] put yourselves in the best position to win and make sure that
you have the right depth and competition at each spot."

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