Posted on 7/26/2007 8:14:30 PM

NFL Betting - WHERE WILL DAUNTE CULPEPPER LAND

By Charles Jay

Former Viking and Dolphin quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who was released from Miami's roster in the middle of his dispute with the club that led to a filed grievance with the NFL Players Association, is looking for a place to play and help his NFL betting investors win some cash from the BetUS sportsbook.

Culpepper is 30 years old and was a Pro Bowl quarterback just three years ago. Last season his knee injury, which hadn't completely mended, limited him to just four games for Miami, after which he was "rested" by coach Nick Saban. But in 2004 he tossed 39 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions, and threw for a league-leading 4717 yards en route to leading the Vikes to a playoff appearance (and first-round win over the Packers), the only post-season appearance in Mike Tice's tenure as head coach.

It is not inconceivable that Culpepper can come back, as other QB's like Jeff Garcia, Doug Flutie and Tommy Maddox have done in the recent past. In fact, he's done it before. In 2002, Culpepper had a lousy season, compiling an 18-23 touchdown-interception ratio while Minnesota struggled to a 6-10 record. The next season Culpepper made a trip to the Pro Bowl, tossing for 25 scores with just 11 picks. The monster 2004 campaign followed that. There has never been any question about his ability to throw the football or to be accurate - he ranks third all-time among NFL quarterbacks who have thrown at least 1500 passes, with a career 64.4% completions.

The Dolphins have taken a beating from some of the local press for the way they handled Culpepper. This, from Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard: "After botching the Daunte Culpepper situation from top to bottom and start to finish, everyone from two head coaches to the team's doctors befouling the game's most important position, they get nothing at all for Culpepper except a public-relations headache, but ask you to nonetheless please believe they know what they're doing."

The question is who will give Culpepper the opportunity to ply his trade?

Who will Culpepper be under contract with on Jan. 1, 2008?

1 Dolphins -175

2 Falcons +175

3 Jaguars +250

4 Raiders +400

5 Lions +600

6 Bucaneers +700

7 Browns +800

9 Chiefs +800

10 Ravens +900

11 Patriots +1500

12 Jets +1800

13 Packers +2000

14 Vikings +2500

15 Redskins +3000

Go to the Future / prop section of the BetUS sportsbook and look at the NFL Specials section to find this and other fun NFL props.

Jacksonville has been mentioned as a strong possibility, because Byron Leftwich has lingering effects from injuries and David Garrard, the backup, is not considered someone who can bring the team to a playoff level. The Oakland Raiders have a rookie QB in JeMarcus Russell and an uninspiring veteran in Josh McCown, to go with Andrew Walter, who was disappointing in starting duty last season. The Patriots have Randy Moss, who always made for a potent combo with Culpepper, but Daunte wouldn't find playing time behind Tom Brady.

Kansas City might be a possibility, and wouldn't that be ironic, since the Chiefs traded Trent Green to Miami, which essentially drove Culpepper out. But K.C. is sitting with former Dolphin backup Damon Huard, who put up impressive numbers in Green's absence in 2006, and second-year man Brodie Croyle, an Alabama alumnus who they are very high on.

Cleveland may be looking for a stopgap while they wait for Brady Quinn to develop, but chances are they will hand the offense over to Quinn sooner or later. Tampa Bay suffered at quarterback last year, with rookie Bruce Gradkowski not ready for prime time and Tim Rattay not the answer. But this year Chris Simms has returned to the fold, and Garcia, the reclamation project, signed a free agent contract. What about Green Bay? Aren't they looking for a successor to Brett Favre? And is Aaron Rodgers a viable answer?

The most intriguing possibility is in Atlanta, where the Falcons are facing the very real possibility of a season without Michael Vick. Most books have even taken down most of their preseason NFL lines on the Falcons. The commissioner's office has ordered that Vick not report to training camp, and until his legal situation is straightened out, the season is very much up in the air. Having traded Matt Schaub to Houston in the off-season, Atlanta is left with Joey Harrington under center. This may be Culpepper's best opportunity to compete for a starting job. Whether he would be willing to come down from his $5.5 million base salary is another question.

With 2007 NFL games still a ways away, we at the BetUS.com sportsbook will keep your interest high throughout the NFL offseason with the most exciting and innovative NFL props and NFL futures on the online sports betting market. In the Sportsbook in the Future / Props section, you will see NFL Futures, Specials and Week One NFL Lines for all your favorite NFL teams.