Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who had surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right knee, appears to be on course to be back for the 2006 season, the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis reported.
The paper reported that Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman told coach Brad Childress that Culpepper's progress is improving. The quarterback is rehabbing in Orlando, Fla.
Culpepper, in an e-mail to the media Thursday, said he clarified his standing with owner Zygi Wilf.
"I want to update the fans of Minnesota and the NFL community on my status with the Vikings. Mr. Wilf and I spoke by phone on 2/21/2006 and we each shared our concerns about my present situation," Culepper wrote. "He told me that the Vikings have not yet spoken to other teams about trading me. I shared my disappointment with the lack of communication and the false reports about me demanding more money coming out of Minnesota. I have requested further talks so that we can explore options for the future.
"In the meantime, I have made a good faith gesture toward the organization by offering to move my roster bonus around if it will help clear more cap space to sign free agents. If I am not traded, I want to help coach Childress make a serious run for the championship this year."
Last week, Culpepper said he planned to play for the Vikings in spite of reports that the organization is considering trading him.
"I have found over the years that people with knowledge of the situation are usually the most ignorant, and anonymous sources are usually synonymous with cowards who don't want to go on the record," Culpepper said last Thursday in an e-mail to ESPN and The Associated Press. "My position has been and continues to be that I am focusing on rehabilitating my knee so that I can come back and play the game I love at the highest level."
The Vikings would owe Culpepper a $6 million roster bonus by mid-March, but the Star-Tribune reported that Brad Johnson could replace Culpepper as the starter for next season.
The paper reported that Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman told coach Brad Childress that Culpepper's progress is improving. The quarterback is rehabbing in Orlando, Fla.
Culpepper, in an e-mail to the media Thursday, said he clarified his standing with owner Zygi Wilf.
"I want to update the fans of Minnesota and the NFL community on my status with the Vikings. Mr. Wilf and I spoke by phone on 2/21/2006 and we each shared our concerns about my present situation," Culepper wrote. "He told me that the Vikings have not yet spoken to other teams about trading me. I shared my disappointment with the lack of communication and the false reports about me demanding more money coming out of Minnesota. I have requested further talks so that we can explore options for the future.
"In the meantime, I have made a good faith gesture toward the organization by offering to move my roster bonus around if it will help clear more cap space to sign free agents. If I am not traded, I want to help coach Childress make a serious run for the championship this year."
Last week, Culpepper said he planned to play for the Vikings in spite of reports that the organization is considering trading him.
"I have found over the years that people with knowledge of the situation are usually the most ignorant, and anonymous sources are usually synonymous with cowards who don't want to go on the record," Culpepper said last Thursday in an e-mail to ESPN and The Associated Press. "My position has been and continues to be that I am focusing on rehabilitating my knee so that I can come back and play the game I love at the highest level."
The Vikings would owe Culpepper a $6 million roster bonus by mid-March, but the Star-Tribune reported that Brad Johnson could replace Culpepper as the starter for next season.
