according to startribune.com

The Vikings are gauging quarterback Daunte Culpepper's trade value around the NFL, a person with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday -- confirming a decision triggered when Culpepper demanded that his 2006 compensation be more than doubled.

A well-connected website, www.profootballtalk.com, reported the Vikings are seeking a second-round draft pick for Culpepper, but that asking price could not be confirmed. A trade for so little compensation would conclude a stunning fall for Culpepper, 29, who put up MVP-caliber numbers as recently as 2004.

Baltimore, Miami, Oakland and the New York Jets are among those teams who are expected to pursue quarterbacks this offseason.

The Baltimore Sun reported the Ravens might be interested in placing their franchise tag on running back Jamal Lewis and then trading him for Culpepper.

Regardless, the Vikings now seem willing to jettison their franchise quarterback -- and conceivably install Brad Johnson as their starter -- following a six-week period in which Culpepper has attempted three times to seek an upgrade to his contract.

The last attempt occurred during a Jan. 31 meeting at Winter Park, according to three people with knowledge of the situation.

Culpepper, who fired agent Mason Ashe last month, represented himself during a gathering that also included owner Zygi Wilf, other members of his ownership group, coach Brad Childress and Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski. Culpepper, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, asked that approximately $10 million be added to his contract this season -- increasing his total 2006 compensation to a staggering $18 million.

Wilf angrily turned down Culpepper's request, and it is believed that no substantive communication has taken place since. The disagreement is the largest impetus for soliciting trade offers, but Culpepper might also be seeking a fresh start after suffering a major injury to his right knee and being charged with three misdemeanors in connection with an alleged Oct. 6 sex party on Lake Minnetonka.

Culpepper, due a $6 million bonus on March 14, faces the task of learning Childress' west-coast offense while being unable to practice until summer at the earliest. A team taking Culpepper would have to view him as a starter for 2007 and consider playing time in 2006 a bonus.

Culpepper's contract, which Wilf upgraded last summer, calls for him to make $8 million during the 2006 league year. Culpepper contends the Vikings promised last summer to address his contract further after the 2005 season; the team has denied that claim.

Culpepper did not respond to an interview request, and team spokesman Bob Hagan said no team official would be available to discuss Culpepper's situation.

News surfaced at this time last year that the Vikings were shopping receiver Randy Moss, who ultimately was sent to Oakland for linebacker Napoleon Harris and two draft choices. No trade involving Culpepper could be finalized before March 3.

so hmmmm... daunte culpepper for jamal lewis is a possibility? now, i'm not a vikings fan (go 'skins!), but i don't think that's a bad deal for either team. i certainly think that, just like in the wizard of oz, that the curtain has been pulled, and we all now know what kind of quarterback daunte really is. without a pair of great receivers, he's average. very average. but, for the ravens it would be an upgrade over boeller. and, chester taylor seems to be good enough to be their starter. and for the vikes, who have just been horrendous with the ground game, someone like jlewis would be a great bruiser back. and none of the backs they currently have could/would be that guy.

Hope my Dolphins do not pick him up and get someone in the draft. We need someone younger that Saban can control. I remember Shula bringing Marino along (and it did not take very long), and would like the same thing.

never trade a franchise QB IMO...and for a 2nd round pick?!

if I have to trade him (due to financial reasons) I trade him to the Jets for Abraham and a pick

I wouldn't trade for either Jamal Lewis or Ricky Williams if I'm the Vikings...RB is the easiest position to fill on the football team...plus they already have Mewelde Moore and Ciatrick Fason

I think ...Culpepper and Moss will be..... reunited ...and it feels so good !...lol

RAIDER NATION!!!!

so hmmmm... daunte culpepper for jamal lewis is a possibility? now, i'm not a vikings fan (go 'skins!), but i don't think that's a bad deal for either team. i certainly think that, just like in the wizard of oz, that the curtain has been pulled, and we all now know what kind of quarterback daunte really is. without a pair of great receivers, he's average. very average. but, for the ravens it would be an upgrade over boeller. and, chester taylor seems to be good enough to be their starter. and for the vikes, who have just been horrendous with the ground game, someone like jlewis would be a great bruiser back. and none of the backs they currently have could/would be that guy.

i second this statement... :thumbup:

Jets don't need this guy...

never trade a franchise QB IMO...and for a 2nd round pick?!

if I have to trade him (due to financial reasons) I trade him to the Jets for Abraham and a pick

I wouldn't trade for either Jamal Lewis or Ricky Williams if I'm the Vikings...RB is the easiest position to fill on the football team...plus they already have Mewelde Moore and Ciatrick Fason

with all due respect, i don't know how you can have daunte still classified as a franchise quarterback. it took me a WHILE to finally see the light. at first i thought that it was an aberration. people here were screaming for daunte to be benched, and i would always be the first one to be like "brad's been riding the pine the last few years for a reason." i mean, daunte SEEMED to have a lot of talent. but, all of a sudden he loses the best receiver in the game and just loses it? i mean, honestly, he was surrounded by a LOT of talent as far as receivers go. i mean, they even had a play called "moss go get it." he started 6 games last year (hurt at the start of game 7). 12 int's. 6 td passes (and i'm not dyslexic either. those numbers shouldn't be reversed). only games he didn't throw at least 2 int's were vs the saints and the packers. so pretty much, unless he played bottom of the barrel teams, he was throwin' too many picks.

IMO, unless you put him on a team that has above average receivers, he's not gonna be a difference maker. and ironically, the ravens do have good receivers. derrick mason is a solid veteran. mark clayton has good potential on the other side of the ball, and they have a great TE/safety valve in todd heap.

jets don't have a good TE. receivers may be slightly better than the vikes, which isn't saying much. i'm personally of the philosophy that unless you're the kc chiefs and have two all pro rb's on your roster, you need ONE rb that will carry the majority of the load, and can at least take 25-30 carries, no prob. moore is more like a bryan westbrook, and i don't think that fason could do 25-30 consistently.

i just did a little digging on fason just to see if i was wrong. for his last two years in school, 2003 looks like he didn't really play too much. 2004 looks like he was the starter. 12 games. averaged 18 carries a game. only had two games where he carried the ball more than 25 times, and only two more times did he carry the ball 20 or more times.

Daunte is only a shadow of what he once was. Although I am a Bears fan, I think the Vikings are doing the right thing by shopping him around. He has no business asking for that kind of raise especially after last season (both on and off the field). Although I agree that Lewis also needs a change of venues I'm not so sure that Minn. is the right place for him.

with all due respect, i don't know how you can have daunte still classified as a franchise quarterback. it took me a WHILE to finally see the light. at first i thought that it was an aberration. people here were screaming for daunte to be benched, and i would always be the first one to be like "brad's been riding the pine the last few years for a reason." i mean, daunte SEEMED to have a lot of talent. but, all of a sudden he loses the best receiver in the game and just loses it? i mean, honestly, he was surrounded by a LOT of talent as far as receivers go. i mean, they even had a play called "moss go get it." he started 6 games last year (hurt at the start of game 7). 12 int's. 6 td passes (and i'm not dyslexic either. those numbers shouldn't be reversed). only games he didn't throw at least 2 int's were vs the saints and the packers. so pretty much, unless he played bottom of the barrel teams, he was throwin' too many picks.

it was one year...how many good QBs over the years have had a bad year? Plenty...he's a franchise QB because of his talents, his size and his arm strength...If Daunte was coming out last year he would have been the number one pick...if he came out this year he would be right next to Vince Young and there would be debate on who was going to be the better pro...you don't get the opportunity to find QBs that often

that and a year ago he threw for 4700 yards and 39 TDs...while Moss was out for a good portion of the time

plus Moss to some extent retarded Daunte's progress as a QB. With Moss in the game Daunte knew where the coverage was rolling to Moss...with Moss gone he now has to read defenses...it takes time to learn how to do this and one year isn't enough time

IMO, unless you put him on a team that has above average receivers, he's not gonna be a difference maker. and ironically, the ravens do have good receivers. derrick mason is a solid veteran. mark clayton has good potential on the other side of the ball, and they have a great TE/safety valve in todd heap.

then draft some WRs...WR are much easier to find then QBs...and the Vikings are kidding themselves if they think they can win over the long haul with Brad Johnson...the guy is a statue in the pocket

jets don't have a good TE. receivers may be slightly better than the vikes, which isn't saying much. i'm personally of the philosophy that unless you're the kc chiefs and have two all pro rb's on your roster, you need ONE rb that will carry the majority of the load, and can at least take 25-30 carries, no prob. moore is more like a bryan westbrook, and i don't think that fason could do 25-30 consistently.

Brad Childres isn't going to feature a running game, so why would he trade for a power back in either Lewis or Williams...take a look at how he ran the Eagles the past few years...pass first and run only when you have to...so guys like Lewis and Williams who need 25-30 carries a game to get it going would just be rotting on the Vikings team

and Fason is the short yardage guy, but he was also the best RB on their roster last year (per Mike Tice) but I could care less about his college carrier...take a look at Willie Parker...undrafted, didn't play in college...now the starting RB for the Steelers...RBs are a dime a dozen and can be easily found in rounds 4-7...keep the QB

we'll just have to call this one difference of opinion as far as daunte goes. i think daunte is no different than say scott pippen when he was with the bulls vs. after the bulls. i don't think brad johnson is the answer long term for the vikes but, for whatever reason he performed better last year, and they won more too.

we'll just have to call this one difference of opinion as far as daunte goes.

:) :thumbup:

The NFL for you.....Look at my Jets. I understand their fustration with Chad's injuries but 1 Million offer is a joke. They've made it quite clear by giving him "an offer he must refuse."