Tired Of Fighting, QB Culpepper Retires

Daunte Culpepper summed up his thoughts Thursday in two words, which ushered in the start of a new era for the former Pro Bowl quarterback.

"Farewell NFL," he wrote.

With that, a career once filled with such promise came to a most unceremonious end.

Culpepper, who starred for the Minnesota Vikings before a major knee injury in 2005 curtailed his career, announced his retirement in an e-mail Thursday morning, saying he has simply grown tired of fighting for one more opportunity.

The 31-year-old was the Vikings' first-round draft choice in 1999, became their full-time starter a year later, and teamed with Randy Moss to pile up yards and touchdowns at an impressive rate.

But he hurt his right knee in October 2005, never played for the Vikings again, and never seemed to return to his past level, either.

"When free agency began this year, I had a new sense of excitement about continuing to rebuild my career in the same way that I had rebuilt my knee after my catastrophic injury in 2005," Culpepper said. "Unfortunately, what I found out was that the league did not share any of the optimism about me as an unrestricted free agent that I expected. In fact, there was an overwhelming sense that there was no room for me among this year's group of quarterbacks."

The Miami Dolphins acquired him in 2006 in exchange for a second-round pick, but Culpepper played only four games before being shut down because of continued knee problems. He was sacked 21 times in those four games.

Culpepper completed 64 percent of his passes in a nine-year career, with 142 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder out of Central Florida was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and he was at his best in 2004, when he established career highs in yards (4,717), touchdowns (39) and passing rating (110.9).

BENGALS: The NFL decided Thursday to recognize receiver Chad Johnson's legal name change to Chad Ocho Cinco. The new name will be on the back of his uniform for the season opener in Baltimore on Sunday.

BILLS: Kevin Everett will be honored while attending Buffalo's season opener against Seattle on Sunday, a year after the former Bills tight end sustained a severe life-threatening spinal cord injury.

Also, starting linebacker Angelo Crowell was placed on injured reserve in a surprise move that came after the player elected to have surgery on his left knee.

BROWNS: Linebacker Antwan Peek tore the patellar tendon in his right knee during practice Wednesday and was placed on injured reserve. The Browns re-signed Shantee Orr, waived last week, to replace Peek.

COLTS: Despite a torn ligament in his right knee, center Jeff Saturday is not planning on surgery anytime soon.

GIANTS: Receiver Plaxico Burress signed a two-year contract extension that will bump his salary into the $7 million range for the next five years. The deal includes $11 million in guaranteed money that will be paid this season.

JAGUARS: Offensive tackle Richard Collier is making gradual improvement from gunshot wounds but is "not out of the woods yet," his agent told a newspaper Thursday.

The Jaguars placed Collier on the reserve/non-football injury list and signed offensive tackle Charles Spencer to take his spot on the active roster.

PATRIOTS: For the first time since the 2005 Super Bowl, Tom Brady was not listed on a Patriots practice participation or injury report Thursday.

RAVENS: Agreed to terms with former Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson on a three-year, $11 million contract. Terry Bolar, Anderson's agent, confirmed Thursday's agreement.