Culpepper signs with Oakland Raiders

Former Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper has signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders:

Culpepper, 30, worked out in the afternoon before a gathering of Raiders scouts and coaches in a private workout. Oakland coach Lane Kiffin announced the signing shortly after the team completed practice.

"We had to see him run around, scramble and do different things because his arm didn't go away," Kiffin said. "We weren't really worried about that. We had to make sure everything else was good."

Culpepper began 2006 as Miami's starter but had trouble with his mobility and was sacked 21 times in the first four games. The Dolphins shut him down so he could continue rehabbing and eventually placed him on injured reserve. When they acquired Trent Green in a trade with Kansas City this offseason, Culpepper became expendable.

I've always liked Culpepper, and I'm glad he's back to playing, although you'd have to say that Oakland isn't exactly a QB-friendly team. The past few seasons, the only QBs they've been friendly with are the opposing ones. On the positive side, Culpepper should be healthy now and has a season to show that he's still got the skills that made him so effective for the Vikings before the knee injury.