Raiders have hot commodity in Culpepper

SAN FRANCISCO

I admit to a weakness for Daunte Culpepper. The Raiders have something like a million quarterbacks, and of course, the main quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, isn't even signed yet and he missed the entire training camp and he's not ready to play, not any time soon.

And I think, no big deal because Culpepper can be the starter. You may say I'm nuts. Well, fair enough. The preseason is a time for arguing and speculating and wondering what may be. And this is what I know. Culpepper is 6-4, 265 pounds, for heaven's sake. He's a big guy who can run, which makes him a precursor of Russell, who's the same kind of quarterback. I know in 2000, Culpepper's first season as a starter, he took the Vikings to the NFC championship game. He threw 33 touchdown passes that season and everyone -- I repeat everyone -- thought he would be the next great quarterback in the league. I also know he handled the competition between wide receivers Randy Moss and Cris Carter like a real champ. Those were two big egos and each would whisper to Culpepper to throw the ball to him. And Culpepper would smile and then play the game the right way. Teammates like him. Because he runs like a truck, opponents have trouble structuring coverage against him. He has tremendous talent and equally tremendous flaws.

He has a rocket arm and thinks he can laser the ball wherever he wants, and he throws too many interceptions. He has a reputation for mishandling the ball -- and he fumbled his first snap Saturday night. His knees have not held up well.

He's had an up-and-down career, sometimes playing dreadfully and getting booed, and he got run out of Miami after only one year. All that should cause concern. But he's shown signs of greatness. In 2003 he was the NFC's starting QB in the Pro Bowl. And in 2004 he passed for a whopping 4,717 yards.

It was absolutely correct for the Raiders to take a chance on Culpepper, and it fits Al Davis' profile as a man who resurrects players -- he looks at Culpepper and wonders if he can be Jim Plunkett.

So understand this. The rookie Russell is not a factor at this time. Andrew Walter looked good on Saturday, but we've seen what he can do, and Josh McCown has been around and is a modest talent. Culpepper is the only Raiders quarterback who can make a loud statement, who can induce fear in other teams.

After fumbling that first snap in the second quarter, he looked confident and efficient and upbeat. He threw a rope to Justin Fargas on the right side. He hit tight end John Madsen on a crossing pattern. He found Zack Crockett all alone in the left flat and hit him with a perfect pass which Crockett ran in for a TD, and that put the Raiders ahead 14-13 at the half. He led a nine-play drive that covered 70 yards and used more than 5½ minutes. Not bad.

What Culpepper did to start the third quarter was, well, it was vintage Culpepper. Naturally, he fumbled a snap -- his second of the night. He'll always mishandle the ball -- it's one of his flaws. But on the very next play, he ran for 13 yards, got a first down. And that's Culpepper, demonstrating the bad and the terrific in successive plays. After that, he hit John Madsen for 44 yards and then he sprinted left, set his feet, let the ball fly and hit Madsen alone in the end zone for a touchdown. In the process, he proved his legs are healthy and he still can run and stop and throw, and he seemed to answer the big question looming over his career.

Coach Lane Kiffin said, "He's unique to watch on game day. He's a dynamic competitor. We heard that about him."

We all did.

I hope the Raiders think bravely and creatively. Culpepper can be a big presence, a difference maker, and he's the quarterback Oakland desperately needs and he should be the starter when season begins.You can reach Staff Columnist Lowell Cohn at 521-5486 or lowell.cohn@pressdemocrat.com.