Vikings triple Culpepper’s 2005 $alary!

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 08/10/2005

If you’ve been to the MetroDome lately and seen the giant billboard on the corner of 6th Street and Chicago Ave., it says the party this season will be at Daunte Culpepper’s house.

Indeed! Unlike the nasty fight that Terrell Owens of the Philadelphia Eagles and his agent Drew Rosenhaus are staging with the Eagles, Culpepper’s agent, Mason Ashe, quietly and professionally has gone about getting a revision in his client’s $102 million contract.

 

Since last year’s playoff loss at Philadelphia, the Vikings have changed dire ctions under new owner Zigi Wilf. They traded Randy Moss, maybe the most dynamic wide receiver in NFL history, and have decided that Culpepper is the new face of the organization.

 

Obviously, there’s value in going from number two to number one, and Culpepper has played a major role as a productive Pro Bowl star, motivating force and leader for an organization that was valued at $250 million when Red McCombs bought the franchise in 1998.

 

The team then sold for $600 million in 2005 despite not having a new stadium. Culpepper is coming off of his third Pro Bowl selection and his shattering of Hall-of-Famer Dan Marino’s 1984 record of 5,077 combined yards record with 5,123 yards, 39 touchdown passes, and a QB rating of 110.9, the fourth-best in NFL history.

 

The Vikings realize that Culpepper has earned a hefty pay increase. He was set to make $2.5 million for 2005 in bonuses and $1.5 in base salary. Vikings Vice President Rob Brzezinski agreed with Ashe that, with all the organization’s changes made on and off the field, Culpepper has earned a raise.

 

After all, if the team does not produce and win, who gets the blame? Head Coach Mike Tice? Brzezinski? Scott Studwell? Everybody in the front office of this organization is working on a one-year deal.

 

The guys who decided to dump Moss will pay if this team does not win. Zigi Wilf will be watching closely. Fans never blame the good old boys — they’ll be on Culpepper.

 

That’s why the Vikings agreed to triple Culpepper’s contract for 2005, keep him happy, and go back to the table after the season. Culpepper will make close to $12 million this year and continue to work under the framework of his previous contract.

 

“Since Culpepper signed his last contract, Peyton Manning and Michael Vick got new deals,” said Mason Ashe. “Culpepper’s deal was significantly outdated based on his productivity. We kept our focus on the deal, not the headlines.

 

“It was about getting Daunte the money and recognizing that he’s underpaid,” said Ashe. “Something had to be done for this year and agree that we’ll adjust the rest of the deal later. I’m happy that we were able to get a revision done with dignity.”

 

Ashe is the cousin of the late tennis great Arthur Ashe, and formerly worked with IMG.

 

Can Culpepper deliver another season like 2004? “Oh yes, without a doubt,” said Culpepper. “Who knows, maybe we might be able to produce more. But we definitely are going to see. I think with the terminology and the talent around me, I don’t see why we can’t put a lot of points up on people. The main thing, however, is to win.”

 

First look at the Vikings will be this Friday, August 12, 7 pm, at the Dome against Kansas City.