KnowledgeReignsSupreme
Footballguy
You see players all the time that are still talented, but aren't what they once were, price themselves out of a good team. Maybe it's ego when a guy like Edge signs with Arizona and thinks he can turn them around. Or maybe it's just the Benjamins.
Although C-Pep is a little different. He wants his next contract to be a huge payday. Is he really accomplishing his goals by signing with Oakland? If he stinks there like every other QB has the last couple years, who is gonna sign him to a multi-million dollar contract in 2008? It seems like NFL GMs are more excited about some team's backup than a castoff from the previous year's cellar dweller.
Take Jon Kitna. He sat behind Palmer for two years, waiting for his chance. He could've run and signed with Cleveland or Arizona or something after losing his job to Palmer. But instead he wanted until he got the chance to sign onto a team with a great WR and brilliant offense mind. They are building a team around him, and he'll cash starter paychecks for at least another year if not two. If he runs off to Cleveland, he's cut after a year of being a stopgap and is trying to catch on with another team... again.
So if I'm C-Pep, I take a page out of the Jeff Garcia 2006 playbook. I sign on as a backup on a respectable team with a QB friendly offense. If I have to take the vet minimum to do it, I do it. I bet C-Pep coming off the bench for a game or two in Detroit or Philly, putting up stats good enough to make everyone think "he's back!", will look better for his resume in 2008 than stinking it up with Oakland for 4-5 games then getting benched for a rookie. Or even if he backs up Brady for 16 games in New England (not saying they would've signed him for the vet minimum, just using it as an example) he can add "studied under Bill Bellichick" to his resume. Just associating yourself with greatness looks good to a lot of people.
Any other thoughts?
Although C-Pep is a little different. He wants his next contract to be a huge payday. Is he really accomplishing his goals by signing with Oakland? If he stinks there like every other QB has the last couple years, who is gonna sign him to a multi-million dollar contract in 2008? It seems like NFL GMs are more excited about some team's backup than a castoff from the previous year's cellar dweller.
Take Jon Kitna. He sat behind Palmer for two years, waiting for his chance. He could've run and signed with Cleveland or Arizona or something after losing his job to Palmer. But instead he wanted until he got the chance to sign onto a team with a great WR and brilliant offense mind. They are building a team around him, and he'll cash starter paychecks for at least another year if not two. If he runs off to Cleveland, he's cut after a year of being a stopgap and is trying to catch on with another team... again.
So if I'm C-Pep, I take a page out of the Jeff Garcia 2006 playbook. I sign on as a backup on a respectable team with a QB friendly offense. If I have to take the vet minimum to do it, I do it. I bet C-Pep coming off the bench for a game or two in Detroit or Philly, putting up stats good enough to make everyone think "he's back!", will look better for his resume in 2008 than stinking it up with Oakland for 4-5 games then getting benched for a rookie. Or even if he backs up Brady for 16 games in New England (not saying they would've signed him for the vet minimum, just using it as an example) he can add "studied under Bill Bellichick" to his resume. Just associating yourself with greatness looks good to a lot of people.
Any other thoughts?
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I think Culpepper in Oakland makes a lot of sense. He wanted a one year deal to prove himself, have a shot at starting week 1, but then have no obligation to stay with that team and be able to move on the next year for that long term high dollar contract. Culpepper gets his chance, and Oakland adds a player who could help now but will not get in the way of their future (Russell). Win-Win.
