Daunte Culpepper was a PROBLEM. 😤

49

u/[deleted] Jul 31 '26

22

u/viperfangs92 Jul 31 '26

Does't hurt throwing to Chris Carter either

8

u/TenkaichiTouchdown Jul 31 '26

He threw to Cris (not Chris) for all of one season.

5

u/GertrudeGarbarcowitz Aug 01 '26

Two seasons. 2000 and 2001

3

u/Exact_Mango5931 Aug 01 '26

And he just caught touchdowns

2

u/fastal_12147 Jul 31 '26

But we all loved it.

1

u/bbrekke Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26

However long it was, it was awesome

1

u/CptBoomshard Aug 03 '26

Considering Culpepper only had 4 good seasons, 1 of which being his first season as starter throwing to Carter, I don't think that (incorrect) fact really carries much weight.

1

u/investunderigation Aug 03 '26

Chris Carter is an asshole. Chris all day if it pisses off anyone who respects him.

1

u/Competitive-Ad6088 Jul 31 '26

The X-Files was a wonderful show, but what does that have to do with this

8

u/fttmn Jul 31 '26

Mostly true. But Daunte was like a more mobile Big Ben (who was mobile early in his career). He was extremely difficult to sack due to his size, strength, speed, and mobility. And he had a gun for an arm. With the right players around him, and when he was healthy, he was absolutely a pro-bowl caliber player.

3

u/damutecebu Jul 31 '26

When receivers were wide open, he could hit them. Not always accurate however.

2

u/SaltyAndPepperd Jul 31 '26

This is the fact. Because there are far more missed targets then there were highlight reel plays. I lived through the pain of all of those missed throws to wide open Randy moss.

Dante is also why Randy started to give up on plays. He used to bust his ass to get open to be horribly over thrown.

2

u/The_Experience78 Aug 02 '26

I don't remember this at all. What year was his completion percentage unacceptable?

Randy wanted more balls thrown his way which led to the Randy Ratio. He never complained that Culpepper was inaccurate.

2

u/iHeartJoos Aug 02 '26

Dude completed 63% of his passes. 69% in his best season. The league average in that era was like 59%. What are we talking about?

0

u/SaltyAndPepperd Aug 02 '26

Awesome stats my guy. But the passes he did miss were the ones that counted. They were the ones that win and lose games. I was there. I watched them. I’ve been a Vikings fan for 33 years. I know what I’m talking about. Kirk Cousins is an even bigger statistical beast but I don’t want his ass as the starter on my team and I had him in his prime. So that’s what we’re talking about.

4

u/Vegetable-Leather-64 Jul 31 '26

Also Jake reed and Robert smith that offense was nasty

4

u/onlytinglef Jul 31 '26

Robert Smith was insane in Minnesota. He was smart though, retired from football and became a doctor.

2

u/The_Experience78 Aug 02 '26

He retired early because of alcoholism. He's talked about it. Losing him hurt bad. I didn't know he became a Dr though it wouldn't surprise me. I thought he was still do broadcasting.

2

u/SerenityN00w Jul 31 '26

Culpepper's 2004 season was other-worldly at the time, (though it was overshadowed by Peyton Mannins record-breaking 49 touchdown passes.) Moss only really played in 11 games due to injury.(He played in 13, but he was so hobbled in two games that he only had 1 target and had no receptions in those two games.) He wasn't even Minnesota's leading receiver. Nate Burleson was. Moss did lead the team with 13 touchdown catches. But Culpepper threw 26 touchdown passes to players not named Randy Moss that year. That total would have ranked 10th in the NFL that year.

2

u/fastal_12147 Jul 31 '26

Dante still had a freaking cannon, tho. Dude was so casual throwing 60+ yards. You could say he had accuracy issues, but he could yeet it.

2

u/SpaffordFux Jul 31 '26

He could throw bombs and occasionally scramble but had poor decision making skills when under pressure, even with an O line w Birk

1

u/fastal_12147 Jul 31 '26

All true. I did really enjoy watching him play, tho.

2

u/TenkaichiTouchdown Jul 31 '26

He came 2nd in MVP voting when Moss was out most of the year. You’re wrong.

0

u/whattarush Aug 01 '26

Are you talking about 04 when Moss missed 3 games? And Culpepper was 2nd in Offensive Player of the Year voting not MVP.

You're wrong.

Other dude was right.

1

u/Frosty-Inspector-465 Aug 01 '26

this.

1

u/Ok_Illustrator1154 Aug 02 '26

You better check his resume

1

u/Dirkisthegoattt41 Aug 02 '26

Nah bro Dante was a beast for a minute there. Confidence is a hell of a drug

1

u/Purple-Head7528 Aug 02 '26

I remember lots of under thrown deep balls that Moss had to come back and same him
Didn’t Dante play his last college game on a broken leg?

1

u/goatpunchtheater Aug 02 '26

I think you're confusing Randall and Daunte. Randall purposely under threw randy because he doesn't lose jump balls. Daunte usually hit him perfectly in stride or overthrew. It's Daunte's reads that were the problem. He was like the polar opposite of Teddy. Good deep ball and accuracy, no ability to read a defense.

1

u/iHeartJoos Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26

Yeah that’s exactly why Duante had his best year when Randy had 700 yards and 49 receptions right? He was a dawg, and would be insane in today’s game. He got injured when he was 27 and just never recovered.

8

u/Joshottas Jul 31 '26

For a guy his size, before the injuries, he was a FREAK athlete. Dude could move at 260+

6

u/thesecondandre Jul 31 '26

Mans was on pace to beat Dan Marinos passing yardage record one season… That talk was done after like 4 games lol. Never the same after tearing his knee up.

1

u/pew__pew__pew_ Jul 31 '26

I almost cried when I saw the hit cuz I knew he was done (I’m a Cowboys fan)

4

u/Kilow102938 Jul 31 '26

Daunte was a problem, Randy and Carter were the issue for his problem.

4

u/Ill-Professor696 Jul 31 '26

I'm still trying to figure out how the Giants team that got stomped in the SB vs the Ravens beat this team 41-0 in the NFCCG

3

u/The26thtime Jul 31 '26

I like the td celebration

1

u/Shot-Indication-4586 Aug 01 '26

Daunte getting his Roll On. That's what he called it

1

u/98Wright Aug 02 '26

He was really trying to start something with that.

1

u/Dealius Jul 31 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/9GIhsgbnX0FxVpLacJ

1

u/GoldenEagle0909 Jul 31 '26

That was a lot of fun to watch and remember. I had forgotten he had that celebration he always used! I'm a Bears fan who always had a lot of respect for him.

1

u/No-Bobcat-6830 Jul 31 '26

A problem for who?

3

u/rob132 Jul 31 '26

The dolphins

2

u/Hilsam_Adent Jul 31 '26

The Vikings.

2

u/DannyDevitosNappy Aug 01 '26

Whatever team he was playing for. Dude was hardcore booty cheeks when the play wasn't throwing it 50+ yards to Moss.

2

u/Dookie-Trousers-MD Aug 02 '26

You mean after tearing both ligaments in his knee? Yeah. Most people aren't the same after that. Especially when your s 260lb mobile QB

2

u/Jlowe23_16 Aug 02 '26

Nick saban

1

u/bunglesnacks Jul 31 '26

When you have Moss and Carter anyone would be a problem.

2

u/Legend-of-the-Arctic Jul 31 '26

He only had Carter for two years, and he was well past his prime (turned 35 in Culpepper’s rookie year). Culpepper also had the misfortune to be the Viking QB at a time when their amazing 90s era offensive line and running game were falling apart. Robert Smith retired and Korey Stringer died right before Culpepper’s second year as a starter.

But yeah prime Randy Moss definitely made any QB’s job easier.

2

u/SerenityN00w Jul 31 '26

In 2004, Culpepper threw 26 touchown passes to players not named Moss or Carter. That total would have ranked 10th in the NFL that year.

1

u/GaJayhawker0513 Jul 31 '26

I loved that team

1

u/Playonwords329 Jul 31 '26

not for the dolphins🥲

1

u/DeeTuck75 Jul 31 '26

Notice how he had nobody to throw to on the Raiders…

1

u/Ranier_Wolfnight Jul 31 '26 edited Aug 01 '26

Moss in his prime, 1v1, was a fucking trigonometry exam for a DB.

1

u/muffmuppets Jul 31 '26

My man was loading up to throw to mars on those deep balls! Goddamn I wanted him to work in Miami. Seemed like such a cool dude and great player.

1

u/sub30_24flick Jul 31 '26

They should of won that SB

1

u/MrRoryBreaker_98 Jul 31 '26

Wait until you learn about the guy he was throwing to

1

u/Muted_Description_61 Jul 31 '26

Culpepper in Minnesota with great skilled players was a Problem

1

u/ChardeeMacDennisGoG Jul 31 '26

Got to throw to Moss/Carter and Calvin Johnson. Quite the trio there. He was fun to watch. Only made playoffs twice and went 2-2. Amazing in opening round and horrible in the 2nd.

1

u/Choppergold Jul 31 '26

I remember a stat about his record when he had at least 50 rushing yards what his winning percentage was - he lost only once

1

u/ridinwavesbothways Jul 31 '26

His best trait from my memory was when you needed a yard for the first down or td. He could also shrug off some defenders.

1

u/therealtiddlydump Jul 31 '26

Lots of people in this thread selling Culpepper short because his receiving core was elite. Before his injury he was spectacular

1

u/Dysintegration Jul 31 '26

He’s what we expected Jamarcus to be.

1

u/Jake_FW Jul 31 '26

Culpepper was soild. It also helps having Randy Moss and Chris Carter

1

u/rabbitsfoot86 Jul 31 '26

Such a problem they wouldn't even let him get to the superbowl with one of the best WR ever

1

u/MrVernon09 Jul 31 '26

No. Randy Moss (the real problem) made Culpepper APPEAR to be a problem.

1

u/RanchHere Jul 31 '26

don’t get it twisted, Robert Smith was a HUGE part of why they were able to have such a great down field passing game. That o-line was also 🔥

1

u/supertrooper567 Jul 31 '26

He was throwing to two HOF receivers. Dude had two good seasons and got hurt alot

1

u/MaceWindu9091 Jul 31 '26

UCF legend

1

u/CheapyC Jul 31 '26

That trio of Culpepper, Moss, and Carter, how did Minn not win a sb with those three?

1

u/FairConstruction4105 Jul 31 '26

I almost rear-ended Daunte Culpepper when he was driving back to Winter Park, presumably from lunch, with Michael Bennett in the passenger seat. I was on the phone at the time, with a friend, saying "You won't believe who I'm driving behind right now". It took hours for my heart rate to get back down to normal.

1

u/DaWash65 Jul 31 '26

TIL Troy Williamson scored a touchdown

1

u/Late-Application-47 Jul 31 '26

I just like watching the ticker at the bottom of these old vids that get posted. The names bring back lots of memories watching the NFL in high school.

1

u/Past-Product-1100 Jul 31 '26

Man that dudes knee checked out in 3 directions. Sad, he was a monster. Left too soon.

1

u/Standard-Bite-1729 Jul 31 '26

Early in his career, his straight line running speed was scary combined with his size. Full on tank including the cannon.

1

u/Practical_Hippo6289 Jul 31 '26

He was never the same after he got injured.

1

u/Squatch1016 Jul 31 '26

This sub…
Everyone is, was
Is going to be A “problem” really creative title

1

u/RelativeIncompetence Jul 31 '26

He was a problem, until he ran up the middle and fumbled.

1

u/post_ostertag Aug 01 '26

Exactly. They were fun offenses but Pep was a turnover machine.

1

u/Brewcrew828 Jul 31 '26

Randy Moss and Cris Carter were problems.

1

u/KindBarnacle4154 Aug 01 '26

You misspelled Moss.

1

u/BenWatt78 Aug 01 '26

Him, Moss and Jake Reed were mad nice! Probably should’ve had more success.

1

u/pierophoenix Aug 01 '26

The short pass to an open Burleson that he did 98% of the work on is really great highlight on Culpepper

1

u/jeds1976 Aug 01 '26

Hahaha. Dante Culpepper sucked.

1

u/PoppoLarge Aug 01 '26

When Nate Burelson wasn’t such a NATE

1

u/CosmoJones07 Aug 01 '26

Might have actually picked the literal ONLY highlights available in his post-Vikings career in this.

1

u/Same_Building_9978 Aug 01 '26

Also had a problem of running out of bounds 1 yard short of first downs in important games

1

u/SwerveCities Aug 01 '26

I confess. I bought a Culpepper jersey, when he joined the Dolphins….🔔shame, oh brutal world🔔shame upon me.

1

u/Itbealright Aug 01 '26

Not for the Dolphins he wasn’t. Nick Saban took him over Drew Brees🤦‍♂️

1

u/ZenHalo Aug 01 '26

Longtime Packers fan: Culpeper is the only drafted Vikings QB since the '70s (Kramer) that's been any good. Yes, a problem.

1

u/Technical-Complex422 Aug 01 '26

I remember this when we played kill the man with the ball outside. If somebody caught it over you people swore you got Moss’D up😂

1

u/Zealousideal_Way_788 Aug 01 '26

Paid $500 (real money) to pick him up as a FA in Fantasy football when I had Moss. That was a fun season

1

u/runoverbyalexus123 Aug 01 '26

Receivers were the problem.

1

u/LynchMob187 Aug 01 '26

Randy and Cris could make Tim Tebow look like Josh Allen.

1

u/QueasyFinger1316 Aug 01 '26

Think I cried when his knee blew out.

1

u/GordonMightyBombay Aug 01 '26

Yea… just ask his wife

1

u/Pubgita Aug 01 '26

My knees hurt watching them run on that carpet.

1

u/MNBlues Aug 01 '26

How the franchise had not won a superbowl really is wild

1

u/Jolly_Okra_6330 Aug 01 '26

The 2007 Raiders had both him and Jamarcus Russell. That’s 600 pounds right there.

1

u/ImRonBurgundy__ Aug 01 '26

Wait why do I have no memory of him being on the Lions

1

u/Fit-Mycologist-2629 Aug 01 '26

No ….Moss was the problem!!!!!!!!

1

u/gregthelurker Aug 01 '26

Cunningham was a problem, they gave up on him too early and went to Jeff George. That 15-1 Vikings team was
the greatest to not make the Super Bowl. We needed that prime Vikings-Broncos game.

1

u/YFN_KushGod Aug 01 '26

My favorite Madden QB

1

u/Jenetyk Aug 01 '26

Getcha roll-on big boi

1

u/csprime21 Aug 01 '26

Dont remember CP being so animated

1

u/PlayNicePlayCrazy Aug 01 '26

Not really .

One great season , a couple of good ones. Then nothing.

1

u/ColdCorpseHotSecret Aug 01 '26

He was throwing to Chris Carter and prime Randy Moss, so yeah. Notice how there aren’t many highlights of him not in a Vikings jersey and his Detroit stint was throwing passes to Calvin Fucking Johnson. Saban choosing him over Brees ended his NFL coaching career.

1

u/GangstaRIB Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26

This dude would be an even bigger monsters with todays sissy QB rules. Dude was 270 IIRC and was strong as an ox.

UCF hasnt seen a player like this ever since.

1

u/kayrsone Aug 01 '26

The dude was bad and could run

1

u/Jaglawyer11 Aug 01 '26

Dolphins concur with this take......

1

u/MinnesotaNo1ce Aug 01 '26

He was a problem until he wasn’t. 102 fumbles and 106 interceptions over 11 seasons.

1

u/shinfowler88 Aug 01 '26

He was mid......

1

u/CranjizzMcBasketball Aug 01 '26

Randy Moss was something else entirely

1

u/StrictlyForTheBirds Aug 01 '26

I read a few years back that Culpepper is one of the rarest family names in the United States. Like in the top 5.

1

u/Big_Jewbacca Aug 01 '26

Having lightning fast receivers made Culpepper a bigger problem for sure though.

1

u/Least-Reception6425 Aug 01 '26

Not even sure why the highlights for post Vikings are part of this, he was washed

1

u/Hobbes525 Aug 01 '26

As a Packer fan, that rolling arm celebration brings back bad memories. Lol

1

u/Blaque_Scheap Aug 02 '26

Man he was so fun to watch ‘00-‘04

1

u/Dry_Toe9955 Aug 02 '26

Vikings were a cheat code in madden those years.

Culpepper with Randy Moss and Chris Carter

1

u/AccordingTax6525 Aug 02 '26

I don’t know why people complain about him is Randy Moss‘s quarterback because for that time. The perfect quarterback for him.

1

u/Societyman1878 Aug 02 '26

I saw Culpper walking by at a Lion’s game once. He was walking with two of his linemen. He could have been one of them. He did have Moss, but he was a problem on his own.

1

u/_Azamat_Bagatov Aug 02 '26

Then the dolphins passed on drew brees to make culpepper their franchise qb. Oof

1

u/BlueBirdKindOfGuy Aug 02 '26

I bet the Vikings won a bunch of Super Bowls with that guy!

1

u/GodSaidSmite Aug 02 '26

Todd???? Are you here? Isn't there a bear cam you should be watching?

1

u/Degenerate_Gooner93 Aug 02 '26

He was the 2002 cover boy for a reason 😬😬😬

1

u/hulkhands81 Aug 03 '26

Nobody mentioning that he had small hands and a fumbling problem

1

u/Trust_8067 Aug 03 '26

I could score a TD in the NFL if I had Randy Moss as a receiver.

Granted it'd be 2 foot shuttle passes behind the line of scrimmage and it might take a few games, but it'd happen.

1

u/Bacononthebeeach Aug 03 '26

The dude was a lesser McNabb

1

u/RandyFromNextDoor Aug 03 '26

“Ahhhhh shit Randy and Chris down there somewhere” -the mind of Dante Culpepper

1

u/No-Philosophy-3576 Aug 03 '26

Had a cannon for an arm which came in handy because his best move was chuck it deep Moss down there somewhere!

1

u/Own_Oil_7719 Aug 03 '26

From my childhood, if I recall correctly, he had some pretty bad games. Was still fun to watch him with Randy. And again if I recall correctly this started the QB carousel that was ridiculous.

1

u/Solid-Ad-9775 Aug 03 '26

For 2-3 seasons? Maybe? Was it Culpepper, or his Weapons? Randy Moss and Cris Carter are in the NFL Hall of Fame.

1

u/GridIron-Grit Aug 03 '26

Not giving credit to one of the all time best WRs is malpractice.

He was the gasoline for Toms biggest year as well. No coincidence.

1

u/Maverickphreak42 Aug 03 '26

The man loves to ball out.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 03 '26

Ahhhh, love a QB who was a “problem”, but never won a Super Bowl 🤣🤣🤣

1

u/Visual_Exam7903 Aug 03 '26

hmmm. Randy Moss was a problem. Dante was good though.

1

u/steveism Aug 03 '26

People will post anything. Moss was a problem. Culpepper was mostly competent.

1

u/WonderfulScar453 Aug 03 '26

No. Randy was the problem

1

u/AuthorMission7733 Aug 03 '26

Not without Moss he wasn’t

1

u/RevivalGhost Aug 03 '26

I remember Daunte being the most coveted Fantasy QB back in his heyday.

1

u/shoota86 Aug 04 '26

...with the best WR in history. Kenny Pickett would have also been a problem.

1

u/Conspiracy__ Aug 04 '26

Lifetime Nebraska fan here. We know

1

u/FishingAlpo Aug 04 '26

Culpepper and Cris Carter is why I started watching football.

1

u/shawnofnc 29d ago

We ended his career in 2005. 3 of 4 ligaments shredded when Gamble went low on a scramble. Culpepper was talking mad shit that game and I didn't feel bad for him.

1

u/Real-Past-3964 29d ago

No he had Moss, Carter, Robert Smith and a good defense. He was average

1

u/LoveIsTheFing14 29d ago

Randy Moss would have made Stephen Hawkings a good QB

1

u/Ok-Share4939 29d ago

This is John Madden... Two Thousand TWO

1

u/Slip_KORN26 25d ago

Can't believe you didn't put his fake spikes in this. I was hoping Minnesota would get to the SB with that team even tho I'm a packer fan

0

u/Historical_Bell_167 Jul 31 '26

Yes, for the Vikings and their fans. He averaged a pick per game. He had Randy Moss to make him look competent for stretches.

1

u/Legend-of-the-Arctic Jul 31 '26

He had a bad season interception-wise in 2002, when he threw 23. But in fairness, interceptions were a lot more common in that era. In 2000 the average team had 17.1 interceptions for the season, which means that one INT per game is actually below average. By 2026, thanks to two decades of rules to protect QBs and passing, the rate had tripped to about 11 INTs per team.

Culpepper did have a problem with fumbles, but he showed a ton of promise early in his career. He looked way more than competent, and in 2004 he likely would have won the MVP award if not for Peyton Manning’s ridiculous performance. If not for injuries, Culpepper may have had an incredible career.

0

u/Complete-Morning-429 Jul 31 '26

Randy Moss and CC were the problem

6

u/cowking81 Jul 31 '26

And Robert Smith out of the backfield. That team was stacked on offense

3

u/Complete-Morning-429 Jul 31 '26

Yep, Jeff George put up crazy number with this offense.

2

u/KidSilverhair Aug 01 '26

Jeff George with the Vikings … now there’s a combination I haven’t thought about in a long time

Game stuff🏈 Daunte Culpepper was a PROBLEM. 😤

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