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The $102 million contract extension that quarterback Daunte Culpepper signed on Friday with the Vikings has ruffled feathers within the organization -- and the curve-blowing deal for a mediocre-to-above-average passer likely will piss off personnel execs throughout the league as they try in the future to negotiate deals with their own so-so signal-callers.
According to a league source, several members of the Vikes' front office are extremely upset that they were cut out of the loop regarding the impending deal. The present concern within the front office is that owner Red McCombs is becoming an older (much) version of Redskins' chief Dan Snyderbrenner.
Around the league, insiders are telling us that the streaky Culpepper shouldn't have gotten a contract of this kind unless he had a monster year in 2003. In our view (and in the opinion of others around the league), Culpepper's performance in three seasons as a starter (one great year, one good year, one crappy year) simply doesn't merit nine figures.
The other potential complication here is the effect of the big-money deal on Red McCombs ability to sell the team. The fact that this kind of money is tied up in one guy could scare away potential buyers. Then again, it's possible (as one league source speculated) that McCombs did the deal at the behest of a buyer who already is waiting in the wings.
After all, the Vikings previously had decided to take a wait-and-see approach with Culpepper. For no apparent reason, McCombs decided on April 28 to get the deal done.
But McCombs' snap decision isn't out of character. He has a history of impulsive decision-making with the Vikes. Two years ago, the $75 million extension paid to receiver Randy Moss came not long after McCombs told his crew to get it done. Now.
Speaking of Moss, we wonder how he'll react to the notion that he's not holding the fattest contract on the team. In our opinion, the fact that Culpepper is getting only $16 million in guaranteed money was a nod to Moss, who got $17 million in 2001.
According to a league source, several members of the Vikes' front office are extremely upset that they were cut out of the loop regarding the impending deal. The present concern within the front office is that owner Red McCombs is becoming an older (much) version of Redskins' chief Dan Snyderbrenner.
Around the league, insiders are telling us that the streaky Culpepper shouldn't have gotten a contract of this kind unless he had a monster year in 2003. In our view (and in the opinion of others around the league), Culpepper's performance in three seasons as a starter (one great year, one good year, one crappy year) simply doesn't merit nine figures.
The other potential complication here is the effect of the big-money deal on Red McCombs ability to sell the team. The fact that this kind of money is tied up in one guy could scare away potential buyers. Then again, it's possible (as one league source speculated) that McCombs did the deal at the behest of a buyer who already is waiting in the wings.
After all, the Vikings previously had decided to take a wait-and-see approach with Culpepper. For no apparent reason, McCombs decided on April 28 to get the deal done.
But McCombs' snap decision isn't out of character. He has a history of impulsive decision-making with the Vikes. Two years ago, the $75 million extension paid to receiver Randy Moss came not long after McCombs told his crew to get it done. Now.
Speaking of Moss, we wonder how he'll react to the notion that he's not holding the fattest contract on the team. In our opinion, the fact that Culpepper is getting only $16 million in guaranteed money was a nod to Moss, who got $17 million in 2001.
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