Is Culpepper a Fit for the Jets?
MDS writes in the New York Sun today that the Jets should consider adding veteran QB Daunte Culpepper to the roster solely as protection against squandering the Jets’ chances at a playoff run should designated starter, Chad Pennington get injured during the season.
As presently constituted, I think we all agree that the Jets have their least depth at the QB, and an injury to Pennington could derail the team. So, adding the best available player might not be a bad move. What remains to be seen is how Culpepper’s recovery has come, whether or not he could pick up Schottenheimer’s system, and how happy he’d be knowingly taking on a backup role.
Hey! Maybe the teams can swap Kendall for Culpepper!
18 Responses to Is Culpepper a Fit for the Jets?
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I am with you SJ, I don’t think two teams in the same division would knowingly help the other.
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TOON2388 says:
how about a 3-way deal. Kendall to Mia; Culpepper to NE; Samuel to JETS. That way, when we end Brady’s season in week 1, NE can revert to the old throw the ball 70 yards and let Moss try to run under it offense.
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Harlan Lachman says:
The reason any trade for Culpepper makes no sense is that it binds the team trading to him to his current contract that is way over valued.
The only way getting Culpepper makes sense is to negotiate a fair market contract for him after he is cut. The Carr deal puts that around $3 mil.
If the Fish win the arbitration ruling, that could take some time. If they lose, as they should (not because they are the Fish but because they are blatantly denying the player an opportunity to hone is skills and compete, damaging his chances to play for any team this year, which as the NFLPA proved in the McNair case is a basic right inherent in signing a professional contract), then he should be available before the start of camp.
Personally, even though he has an idiot for an agent, I think he will realize that the real opportunities are in Baltimore and Atlanta.
Chicago and NYJ are good moves only if Lovie will admit he is wrong about Rex (NOT!) or Chad goes down.
That said, I’d pay three mil for a one year deal as a look see insurance against Chad injury and Clemens being incompetent. I just don’t think he will take it.
Harlan
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SackDance99 says:
Getting Culpepper would be a disaster for team unity and would subject the team to a QB controversy all season. Culpepper’s greatest strength, his cannon arm, is Chad’s biggest weakness. So, any loss or bad INT will bring the press and talk radio to conclude that Culpepper should be the QB. Culpepper’s resume is that of a starting QB (heck, to date, it’s better than Chad’s), he’s the same age as Chad, and he deserves to compete for a starting job or be the clear no. 2 to an aging QB. Since he’s his own agent, he should be calling the Ravens and Packers.
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great point SD99. Plus, Culpepper’s biggest weakness – ability to read to defenses – is not going to work running this offense.
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Bent says: We’re worried about our QB getting injured so we should look at Culpepper of all people? Riiight. Because no matter how injury prone your QBs are, you could never lose two in one season. Oh, wait…
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billvv says:
I think the Jets better count on blocking for the one they’ve got!
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zenlaw says:
As much as I would like to see Chad helm the Jets for another complete season, if they lose Chad, they probably need to see if they have anything in Clemens as a future franchise QB. I realize that it may be premature to bring Clemens into a game situation, but I think the circumstances change if Chad goes down.
Plenty of QB’s become starters during their first year in the league, and Clemens has already benefitted from one year on the bench learning Schott’s system. If we lose Chad, I think Clemens should be given a chance to start.
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Mehl56 says:
I agree Z-law, after all he was a second round pick! I sure hope he has a grasp of the offense by now! Would be the time to show it! But let’s hope Chad makes it through another season. He gives us our best chance!
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In a few places, there were whispers of Clemens “struggling” in practice — I seem to remember the same stories about Pennington, how he wasn’t good in practice in years 1 & 2, but when he got into actual game situations, he played very well. Anyone else recall this?
And more importantly, does anyone else think this may apply to Clemens?
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JP says:
R in CT — I clearly remember a sports radio talking head stating before Pennington’s breakout year, paraphrase here, “the Jets feel that Pennington is not ready and have fears that he may never be ready”… so I take any “whispers” about Clemens with a grain of salt.
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Ferragamo says:
Off the topic, but anyone hear if the Jets were fined for violating the NFL’s OTA rules? I heard the rumor but haven’t been able to confirm it anywhere yet.
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Bob Glauber in Newsday squealed on the Jets by pointing out that some of the plays they ran “could” violate the CBA’s no contact rule for OTAs. Glauber’s article is on the sportsspyder link on this page. It’s getting pretty obvious that the press is fighting back against Tangini.
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RJ says:
I agree with those who don’t think Culpepper is a fit with the Jets. If the Jets were concerned with Clemens backing up Chad then what were they doing dishing patrick ramsey.
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CanadianJet says:
What I find interesting in this discussion is that last year, we were talking about the same thing. What if Chad Pennington’s rotator cuff is not completely healed and we lose our starting QB?
Last year, I would have been more apt to suggest that perhaps we should find a backup QB for a “what if” situation. Because Chad was more of an unknown if he could make the season than he is today. The reality is that Chad played, and started in all 16 games and led a young Jets squad to the playoffs.
Remember “Comeback Player of the Year”? Two Consecutive 300 yard passing games? A 339 yard passing performance vs. the Vikes? And I think as the season progressed into the playoffs there was very little question that Chad was fine, and the Jets were a playoff team after a 4-16 year previously.
Basically, let’s have a little faith that things are going to be much the same. We didn’t worry about Chad after a few games, and shouldn’t worry about him now.
Personally, I would rather see the Jets not get embroilled in another QB controversy and worry about Kendall, or shoring up the O-Line. Work on making sure we have a consistent and healthy HB (it was painful watching 3 people rotate in and out of the backfield all season).
Pay Culpepper to watch 16 games from the sidelines and complain about getting no play time? No thanks!
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RK says:
I think ideally everyone would want to have additional depth at every position especially QB but it’s not the right time and not the right player in this situation. I think he is too immobile and even Chad scrambles in crucial situations (and we all cringe) to pick up that first down. Plus I agree think he is more of a “throw it in there” QB than a cerebral QB like CP and won’t fit the system; although the coaches would probably play to his strengths anyway if he did play.
I’d rather give Kendall money to protect Chad instead of risking his body with some other OL. I know that won’t happen because of the way things went down and the precedent can’t be set to cave to everyone that’s unhappy with how much money they make.
dave 
Kendall for Culpepper straight up is a bad trade in my opinion, but Kendall for Culpepper and a 6th or 7th rounder in 2008 is a perfect fit. After all, we don’t even know if Culpepper can play.