Vikings will take a QB in the draft. (1 Viewer)

[reg]

Mostly another article about Culpy, but within I bolded the QB talk.

ORLANDO - Brad Childress took another look back at the Vikings quarterback situation Wednesday before turning his gaze forward. Speaking on the final day of the NFL annual meetings, Childress said Daunte Culpepper did himself a "disservice" by rehabilitating his right knee in a subpar facility.

Concern about Culpepper's workout program played a role in the Vikings' decision to trade him March 15. His departure left the Vikings committed to finding their quarterback of the future by the end of next month.

But while Childress reiterated the team almost certainly will draft a quarterback next month, its target might be a lesser-known player rather than one of the generally accepted blue-chip quarterbacks who will be drafted in the top half of the first round.

"I know there are the preeminent guys that are there," Childress said of USC's Matt Leinart, Texas' Vince Young and Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler.

"But there are some names that are down the line as well. ... Regardless of who is starting this year, we want to take a developmental guy. I think it behooves you to have your eye on a guy that's got the skill set that you're looking for and try to get that up to speed ... a guy that you're serious about bringing along within the system."

Alabama's Brodie Croyle, Clemson's Charlie White- hurst and Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs are among the second tier of available quarterbacks. They are projected as second- or third-round selections; the Vikings will have at least three picks in those rounds and possibly four if they decline to match Seattle's offer sheet for receiver Nate Burleson.

Whomever the Vikings select, Childress said he has no intention to play him before the 2007 season. Brad Johnson, who turns 38 in September, is the Vikings' starter and Mike McMahon is expected to back him up. J.T. O'Sullivan currently is the No. 3 quarterback.

"I would say you wouldn't want that [newcomer] on the field the first year," Childress said. "Maybe he would play in the preseason. You would have to say this: If we got that guy and he has to play in the first year, then things [have gone wrong]. That means some guys have gone down in a hurry."

Plenty went wrong in Childress' introduction to Culpepper, including a previously unrevealed anecdote that called into question Culpepper's method for recovering from major surgery on his right knee.

Childress sent athletic trainer Eric Sugarman to visit Culpepper last month, and the two met at a HealthSouth clinic near Orlando. According to Childress, the facility was small and its resources were vastly inferior to what the Vikings use at Winter Park.

"You ask, 'Where is he rehabbing?' " Childress said. "He's rehabbing in a HealthSouth place in Orlando. ... I've spent some time in this state. ... I close my eyes. I'm seeing a Chinese restaurant, a HealthSouth place, a laundromat. Basically a strip mall that he's rehabbing himself at.

"And I'm thinking, what did they have in there? They had a StepMaster and some other things. In other words, all the modalities we have in our training room, all the different things [he didn't have]. ... I just thought it would be better [to train in Minnesota]."

After Sugarman examined the knee, Culpepper agreed to attempt some basic movement drills. According to Childress, Culpepper led Sugarman out of a back door ... and into the parking lot of a Wal-Mart.

"So you can understand where I'm coming from," Childress said. "The Chinese restaurant, the laundromat, then he's in an alley, out the back door and into the Wal-Mart parking lot. I'm like, 'What's wrong with this picture?' ... This is our franchise quarterback. ... Is he better served here in the fieldhouse or in the Wal-Mart parking lot?

"I told him, 'I think you're doing yourself a disservice. You can do better for yourself than that.

"He said, 'I'm good, that's where I'm doing it.' "

Culpepper, who is working out in the offseason program of his new team, the Miami Dolphins, was not available for comment.

http://www.startribune.com/510/story/339395.html

 

[Andy Dufresne]

One vote for Omar Jacobs.

Another vote for Childress to shut his yap about CPep.

 

[trader jake]

did childress learn nothing from last years experience dealing with TO? let it go...cpep is gone. go drew on them, "next question!"

and yeah, it makes sense for the vikings to select a developmental QB with brad johnson as the starter and a new regime in town

 

[Spergon Wynn]

Another vote for Childress to shut his yap about CPep.

I'm a Vikings fan and so far like what I hear and see from Childress...but I agree, leave Culpepper alone. You'd think Childress could take the high road and "move on". Seems Culpepper is taking the high road....at least 'now' he is.

 

[TeamDingo]

I love how when Childress was on with Morris he refused to even take questions on Culpepper. Going with the "it's old news defense" ( this was one week after trading your All-Pro, Face of the Franchise, "This is Duante's Team Now {post-Moss}", Most Important Position, Team Leader in the Prime of His Career for a second round draft choice. Seems to me it still might be somewhat newsworthy.) But now 2 weeks after it's fine to take shots at him in the press.

Count me as highly skeptical that the Triangle is not in a bit over their pointy heads.

 

[John 14:6]

But while Childress reiterated the team almost certainly will draft a quarterback next month, its target might be a lesser-known player rather than one of the generally accepted blue-chip quarterbacks who will be drafted in the top half of the first round.

Marcus Vick Who cares where Daunte is rehabbing as long as he gets the job done. If he wants to rehab near his home and he's doing a good job of it, leave him alone.