DolphinsThe NFL Players Association has filed a grievance against the Miami Dolphins on behalf of quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper wants to be released from his contract in light of the team’s acquisition of Trent Green from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Am I the only one who thinks this is comical?? Has there been a more over-rated QB in the NFL in recent years than Culpepper? His success in the league is tied directly to Randy Moss. The Viking’s “Love Boat” incident may have gotten Culpepper run out of Minneapolis, but it was only a matter of time until he was exposed as a below average quarterback. Most of the problems he had in 2006 with the Dolphins had nothing to do with his bum knee, but more to do with his bad decision-making and poor accuracy. I, for one, am not remotely surprised that the Dolphins are trying, desperately, to trade him.Cul

The Dolphins refuse to let Culpepper train formally with the team this off-season, but stopped short of banning him from the practice facility, something the Tennessee Titans did a year ago with Steve McNair. In that case, an NFL arbitrator found in favor of McNair, and the Titans were forced to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens.

What I find interesting is that the lead counsel for the NFLPA, when speaking about the case, has said

“If the team won’t allow him to practice because they don’t want to be liable for his contract if he is injured, it should just release him. They can’t keep exclusive rights to a player just because they feel he’s worth a draft pick [in a trade].”

…UH…Yes They Can. Are You Kidding Me?? He has seven years left on the contract he signed with the team just a year ago. Now I’m not a lawyer or anything, but even I know that the teams in the NFL hold all the cards when it comes to a player’s professional life, just ask all the guys who are cut each summer for salary cap reasons.Cul1