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Footballguy
If Culpepper would have thrown a punch, I'm assuming it would have been picked off. Here's the story...
link:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/16318116.htm
Injured quarterback Daunte Culpepper left his suite to set the record straight after ESPN's Steve Young said he missed Dolphins team meetings.
As quarterback Daunte Culpepper watched his team play from his suite at Dolphin Stadium on Monday, he was suddenly alarmed by the discussion on a TV set mounted in the corner of the room.
They were talking about him. And it wasn't good.
Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, who was visiting the ESPN commentators as a on-air guest during the second quarter, said Culpepper needed a better work ethic. That he needed to stop missing meetings.
''I don't miss meetings,'' Culpepper said as he waited to confront Young outside the ESPN broadcast booth. ``That's not who I am. I'm working so hard to get back right now, and I don't need to hear someone who doesn't even know me say I'm missing meetings and I need to work harder.''
Culpepper felt so strongly about the inaccuracy of Young's allegations, he left his suite in search of him, a trek that led him a considerable distance from his box to the press box. Young came out of the broadcast booth nearly five minutes after Culpepper arrived.
The two quarterbacks spoke in a corner for several minutes. At one point, former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, a Monday Night Football commentator, also joined the conversation.
OWNING UP
Once the discussion -- which remained very peaceful and diplomatic -- had ended, Young apologized about the comments. Young said he had heard from others that Culpepper was missing meetings, but he shouldn't have said the comments on the air.
''I made the mistake of not calling Daunte himself,'' Young said afterward. ``He was doing rehab, he was doing all kinds of other things. He tells me he wasn't [missing meetings]. He looked me straight in the eye. Joe [Theismann] is going to fix it on the air for me.''
Later in ESPN's broadcast, Theismann did revisit the topic, clarifying that Culpepper had only been absent for one meeting -- which was missed because he was undergoing his second surgery in Birmingham, Ala.
Young said he would like to see Culpepper be more visible and vocal about his desire to take over the Dolphins' quarterback job. He wants to see him step forward, being more of a team leader during his rehabilitation.
But as Culpepper explained to him, it's difficult to take charge when you aren't healthy.
''I want Daunte to let us know,'' Young said. 'I want him to give us that, `I'm going to take this job.' I want Daunte to be that guy. But until he's healthy, he really can't be. I want to perceive him as the new sheriff in town.''
For most of the season, Culpepper has not been very visible. He regularly denies interview requests and has been absent from the sidelines during home games. Like the notion that Culpepper has missed several meetings, however, misperception could be mostly to blame.
Culpepper, who has attended all of the games, actually watches the games from a stadium suite to avoid any risk of injury by standing on the sideline during the games. He has chosen not to do interviews because he doesn't believe much has changed in his status.
On Monday, though, Culpepper was very optimistic about his right knee. He said his second surgery has caused him to feel significantly stronger -- while also eliminating much of the pain he had been feeling before undergoing the procedure.
FEELING BETTER
Culpepper said the surgery, which was performed by Dr. James Andrews, was conducted after four magnetic resonance imaging exams failed to reveal any further problems with the knee. Still feeling pain, Culpepper had thought the problem was his patellar tendon.
But Monday, he said Andrews actually pulled the tiny piece of damaged cartilage from behind his knee near his lower thigh. Culpepper said he can even notice a difference when he walks in everyday activities.
''I'm feeling great, man,'' said Culpepper, who did not walk with any noticeable limp. ``I feel very good about the progress I've been making. Things are going very well.''
link:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/16318116.htm
Injured quarterback Daunte Culpepper left his suite to set the record straight after ESPN's Steve Young said he missed Dolphins team meetings.
As quarterback Daunte Culpepper watched his team play from his suite at Dolphin Stadium on Monday, he was suddenly alarmed by the discussion on a TV set mounted in the corner of the room.
They were talking about him. And it wasn't good.
Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, who was visiting the ESPN commentators as a on-air guest during the second quarter, said Culpepper needed a better work ethic. That he needed to stop missing meetings.
''I don't miss meetings,'' Culpepper said as he waited to confront Young outside the ESPN broadcast booth. ``That's not who I am. I'm working so hard to get back right now, and I don't need to hear someone who doesn't even know me say I'm missing meetings and I need to work harder.''
Culpepper felt so strongly about the inaccuracy of Young's allegations, he left his suite in search of him, a trek that led him a considerable distance from his box to the press box. Young came out of the broadcast booth nearly five minutes after Culpepper arrived.
The two quarterbacks spoke in a corner for several minutes. At one point, former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, a Monday Night Football commentator, also joined the conversation.
OWNING UP
Once the discussion -- which remained very peaceful and diplomatic -- had ended, Young apologized about the comments. Young said he had heard from others that Culpepper was missing meetings, but he shouldn't have said the comments on the air.
''I made the mistake of not calling Daunte himself,'' Young said afterward. ``He was doing rehab, he was doing all kinds of other things. He tells me he wasn't [missing meetings]. He looked me straight in the eye. Joe [Theismann] is going to fix it on the air for me.''
Later in ESPN's broadcast, Theismann did revisit the topic, clarifying that Culpepper had only been absent for one meeting -- which was missed because he was undergoing his second surgery in Birmingham, Ala.
Young said he would like to see Culpepper be more visible and vocal about his desire to take over the Dolphins' quarterback job. He wants to see him step forward, being more of a team leader during his rehabilitation.
But as Culpepper explained to him, it's difficult to take charge when you aren't healthy.
''I want Daunte to let us know,'' Young said. 'I want him to give us that, `I'm going to take this job.' I want Daunte to be that guy. But until he's healthy, he really can't be. I want to perceive him as the new sheriff in town.''
For most of the season, Culpepper has not been very visible. He regularly denies interview requests and has been absent from the sidelines during home games. Like the notion that Culpepper has missed several meetings, however, misperception could be mostly to blame.
Culpepper, who has attended all of the games, actually watches the games from a stadium suite to avoid any risk of injury by standing on the sideline during the games. He has chosen not to do interviews because he doesn't believe much has changed in his status.
On Monday, though, Culpepper was very optimistic about his right knee. He said his second surgery has caused him to feel significantly stronger -- while also eliminating much of the pain he had been feeling before undergoing the procedure.
FEELING BETTER
Culpepper said the surgery, which was performed by Dr. James Andrews, was conducted after four magnetic resonance imaging exams failed to reveal any further problems with the knee. Still feeling pain, Culpepper had thought the problem was his patellar tendon.
But Monday, he said Andrews actually pulled the tiny piece of damaged cartilage from behind his knee near his lower thigh. Culpepper said he can even notice a difference when he walks in everyday activities.
''I'm feeling great, man,'' said Culpepper, who did not walk with any noticeable limp. ``I feel very good about the progress I've been making. Things are going very well.''
