Culpepper's back, but not as a starter in Detroit.
Daunte Culpepper declined to speak to the media Monday, and there's little doubt he's disappointed in the decision to go with Matthew Stafford as the starting quarterback. But Schwartz praised the veteran, who shed 30-plus pounds in the offseason and rededicated himself to becoming an NFL starter again. He talked about that goal after the last preseason home game against Indianapolis.
"I'm trying to be better than I've ever been," Culpepper said then. "I'm looking at this as an opportunity for me to put myself back on the map, show I'm healthy, and that's how I look at it."
He made it clear from the start of offseason workouts that he wasn't going to waste any time lobbying for the job with the media. And in the preseason, he offered up his "three Ds" explanation, saying he was "determined" to prove himself, but that it wasn't his "decision" and he wasn't going to get into the "debate" about the No. 1 job.
This weekend, the coaches officially decided his fate, though. Culpepper will be the backup, barring an injury to Stafford, for as long as he's in Detroit. But Jim Schwartz did go out of his way Monday to tout Culpepper's revival.
"I want to say this: Daunte Culpepper is back," Schwartz said. "There's no doubt in my mind -- I don't think there's any doubt around the league. The commitment that he made over the last six months to get back to being a starting NFL quarterback, I mean, that's obvious, that's apparent. He's gonna be back as a starting quarterback at some time in this league."
Asked if the Lions would consider trading Culpepper, who is scheduled to make more than $4 million in salary and bonus money this season, Schwartz said, "We're very happy with where we are quarterback-wise. ... I think (quarterback0 is going to be a strength on our team, and I don't think we're in a position of getting rid of good players."
NOTE: A lot of people keep asking, and here's the answer: Veterans' salaries are guaranteed for the season if they're on the opening-weekend roster. Or to put an actual time on it, Saturday at 4 p.m. is the deadline.
