On Being a Dolphan in Minnesota Vikings Country

The BBQ Pit
1

I am a Miami Dolphin fan in Minnesota. (Believe it or not, the Dolphins can trace their origins to Minneapolis, so in effect, I do root for a “hometown” team.) Sure, I cheer for the Vikes, but my heart is with the Dolphins ever since Csonka, Warfield and Kiick made my father go apoplectic in the 1974 Super Bowl.

Motherfucking Dolphins just traded for Culpepper–thereby assuring their continued mediocrity for the Dolphins (and probably the Vikings, whose lifetime record closely mirrors the Dolphins.) Why, oh why, can’t my beloved Dolphins do something right? With Brees out there and Young’s value dropping fast–surely there were better options than this fumble-fingered, can’t win the big-one QB…

Of course, if we win the AFC East with Culpepper, I retract everything I just said…

Also, I do recognize this is my second Minnesota-related rant in as many days. i’ll stop now.

2

I was actually going to start a thread about this trade. Don’t give up hope just yet. Two years ago Daunte set an NFL record for total yardage in a season and would have been MVP if not for Peyton Manning’s touchdown record. When Pepper is healthy and has some protection, he can be an outstanding quarterback. He’s got a cannon and he runs like a truck. His major problem is with turnovers- especially fumbles, but when he’s got some time to look and/or room to run he can be lights out.

Of course a lot depends on his knee and how completely he can recover but don’t write him off as a bust just yet. The guy, at his best, is Pro-Bowl caliber.

Us Purple fans, on the other hand, have now lost our franchise quarterbnack AND our elite wide receiver in the space of a year. Now we’ve got 78 year-old Brad Johnson behind the center and so far no momentum to get a starting QB in free agency (for a while Drew Brees sounded like a possibility but now that appears to be out).

What are the odds that Vince Young will still be around at #17?

3

I agree with Dio, Daunte could be an awsome pickup for you. The main reason he sucked eggs last year was that he was behind the second worst O-line in all of football. It’s hard to throw from your knees. But his health is a big question mark.

4

[Obligatory Vikings Taunt]

Don’t be to down on Brad Johnson, either. He gives you something the Vikings have never had before–A quarterback with a Super Bowl ring. :wink: [/OVT]

5

In Culpepper the Fish are getting an extraordinarily slow-witted QB who will take forever to learn the system and players in Miami. Culpepper crumbles fast under pressure, is easily confused by defenses, throws some of the worst interceptions I’ve ever seen and fumbles all the time. He has a strong arm and is a decent, but not fabulous, runner (or he was before this injury). He is also a touchy moron off the field who is acting as his own agent with comical results. Having no agent means there is no buffer between him and the management so expect him to get pissed off with the Fish pretty fast. Then there is that whole boat party thing. He’ll need to steer clear of nautical bacchanalia in south Florida.

Bottom line: if you give him a really long time to pick up the offense, put him behind a strong offensive line, give him a star receiver or two and keep him happy with the team management then, if his leg heals, he could post some impressive numbers.

6

I’m not too familiar with Culpepper, but FWIW it’s sounds like he’s not going to be able to cut on the pro level, ever. He’s got the meat, but he can’t coordinate with the rest fo the team. Put him in an average team and he’ll be bad. Put him a good team and he’ll be awful.

Put him in a bad team, though, and he might rise to OK.

And yes, his contract hijinks are more amusing than annoying, partly because he keeps asking for more money after screwing up.

7

snicker

Fair enough. Sure, he’s geriatric, but he’s not a total embarrassment, right? Right. I mean, I kinda like the guy. But then, I tend to root for the old guys who play with the younguns who weren’t even born when they started their career.

Call me strange if you must, but I’m thinkin’ this might not be all THAT bad for the Vikings. Or the Dolphins.

8

[ridiculous nitpick]

Jim McMahon, briefly

[/ridiculous nitpick]

9

Touche’. I was too transfixed on his headband to recall any jewelry on his hand. Looks like I need a new taunt.

10

I’m just wondering why someone claiming to be a Dolphins fans has “Jag” in his nic.

11

I heard a remark on the radio today that went something like, “Daunte Culpepper has averaged one interception per game for his entire pro career.” I haven’t the inclination to try and Google that statement for accuracy, but it sure wouldn’t surprise me.

I just know he had plenty of Int’s. When you add in his fumbles, he really stinks.

12

According to Culpepper’s rapsheet on nfl.com, his fumbles come out to exactly 1 per game. Scope it out:
Games played: 81 (started 80)
Career fumbles: 81 (33 lost)
Career INT: 86

Sooo…that’s an average of 1 fumble per game, 1.06 INT per game, and a total of 2.06 per game. Considering less than half of his fumbles were recovered by opponents, it’s an actual turnover rate of 1.65 per game.

For comparison (all according to nfl.com’s stats…not all of which add up, so this is rough):
Tom Brady- .83 (66 INT, 1 fumble lost, 80 games) and one punt for 36 yds :slight_smile:
Marc Bulger- 1.45 (51 INT, 13 fumbles lost, 44 games)
David Carr- 1.03 (53 INT, 9 fumbles lost, 60 games)
Jake Delhomme- .98 (52 INT, 1 fumble lost, 54 games)
Brett Favre - 1.36 (255 INT, 53 fumbles lost, 225 games)
Brad Johnson- .93 (102 INT, 20 fumbles lost, 130 games)
Peyton Manning- 1.01 (130 INT, 0 fumbles lost [!], 128 games) This guy’s TD to INT ratio the last three years? 3.5…outstanding.
Donovan McNabb- 1.04 (66 INT, 32 fumbles lost, 94 games)
Steve Mcnair- .95 (103 INT, 30 fumbles lost, 139 games)
Jake Plummer- 1.18 (148 INT, 2 fumbles lost, 127 games)
Vinny Testaverde- 1.31 (261 INT, 33 fumbles lost, 223 games)
Mike Vick- 1.01 (39 INT, 20 fumbles lost, 58 games)

Conclusion? I dunno. Culpepper’s got a very high turnover-per-game ratio. Even Jeff Blake is a 1.40. Aaron Brooks is an ugly 1.68. I think it’s good to bear in mind that Culpie played 7 games last year and had 15 turnovers. He never got a chance to even things out (not that I care, I’m a Green Bay fan). David Carr has what looks to be a reasonable t-over rate, but his teams usually stink. Favre has a much higher rate and he’s been to two Superbowls, won one. Other factors definitely play into this.

This statistic alone will not determine any QB’s success. I don’t think it’s a good indicator of talent. Aaron Brooks and Daunte Culpepper are not comparable QBs.

It’s a good stat to argue about over beers, though. I love trivia.

13

Great stats, Mung. Relevant or not, they’re interesting.

14

I have “jag” in my screen name ecause I am an Army Judge Advocate. Is that incompatible with being a Dolphins fan?

15

Well, there is that other FL team known as the Jags.
The turnover thing is interesting I think. Favre has done well despite his high , but not Culpepper-high, turnover number. But, Favre kept those INTs at a minimum in his Super Bowl years. Last year he was throwing them left and right and the Pack won, what four games? Turnovers kill teams. Culpepper is just fortunate that his own team recovered the majority of his drops. That luck may not hold in the future.

16

Well, yes. I would assume that if you are a jag, you’d be at least half-way intelligent. Is that incompatible with being a Dolphins fan? I’d have to say yes. Yes it is.

:stuck_out_tongue:

17

There’s another Florida football team??? I’m laughing here–I didn’t even think of that.

At least with being a Vikings fan, you’re not taxed too heavily by couting up Super Bowl victories. :wink:

18

I think for giving up a number 2 pick, he’s a steal.

19

Hell, there are three! (Still a Bucs fan, even out here in Seahawks territory…)

20

I’ve spent some time in Sarasota and I have to say that Bucs fans rule. It’s almost as if Tony Dungy rubbed off all that class on the people in the stands, because I haven’t met a Bucs fan I didn’t like.

(I’ve got a soft spot for 'em too…I loved watching them play Green Bay every year and I was a HUGE fan of Tony Dungy. And Mike Alstott, and John Lynch, and Derrick Brooks, and Ronde Barber…hell, I like the Bucs.)