Vikings want Culpepper back next season
If QB Daunte Culpepper isn't with the Vikings next season, it won't be because the team doesn't want him. Coach Brad Childress wants Culpepper back, and the team is intent on keeping him. Childress has liked Culpepper since he saw him work out for the Eagles when Culpepper was coming out of Central Florida in 1999. Childress ranked Culpepper as the second-best quarterback in that draft, ahead of Tim Couch, Akili Smith and Cade McNown but behind Donovan McNabb. Now Childress wants to see whether he can help Culpepper become more consistent. The only way Culpepper will not be in Minnesota is if Culpepper doesn't want to be there. . . .
Deltha O'Neal may be in Honolulu for the Pro Bowl this week, but he wasn't the Bengals' most consistent cornerback this season. Tory James was. O'Neal is good -- he tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions. But Bengals coaches thought James played better on an every-down basis. Opponents threw more passes at O'Neal. In fact, he could have had 15 interceptions but had five drops. . . .
It's little wonder Mike Mularkey resigned as coach of the Bills, given owner Ralph Wilson's indication that he plans to be more involved in running the team. Wilson, according to former Bills employees, already is way too involved. During games, he sends messages to the coaching box complaining about calls and pointing out trends. Wilson also is known to pester the head coach and general manager, taking up hours and hours of their workweeks with phone calls. . . .
ADVERTISEMENT The Broncos have legitimate interest in Dolphins RB Ricky Williams even though Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell both played well last season. The thinking is coach Mike Shanahan would rather have one great back carry the load than divvy it up among multiple backs. And Shanahan always has thought Williams would be a great fit in the Broncos' offense. . . .
The Browns need some pass-rushing help and have some cash and cap space to find it. The problem is there aren't many pass rushers available. One player who could be a good match for Cleveland is 49ers OLB Julian Peterson, who is about to become a free agent. He could be a nice fit in coach Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense, and Peterson should be a much better player in 2006 than he was in 2005, when he still showed the aftereffects of an Achilles' tendon injury. . . .
The Titans are thrilled CB Pacman Jones has made a commitment to be part of the offseason workout program. Jones needs guidance in three areas: conditioning, technique and off-the-field maturity. The team will try to take Jones back to square one. He missed all of training camp, and it showed. Late in the season, Jones appeared worn out. Coaches also will stress that he must improve his tackling. . . .
The generally accepted wisdom is teams improve at defending the run by practicing hitting and tackling. But the Bears credit their improved run defense to their walkthrough practices, of all things. They go through an unusually detailed and tedious walkthrough three times a week. In the course of 30 minutes, the Bears run up to 50 plays against every rushing front they anticipate seeing. The first rep for each play is for the benefit of defensive linemen. The second rep is for linebackers and defensive backs.
Deltha O'Neal may be in Honolulu for the Pro Bowl this week, but he wasn't the Bengals' most consistent cornerback this season. Tory James was. O'Neal is good -- he tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions. But Bengals coaches thought James played better on an every-down basis. Opponents threw more passes at O'Neal. In fact, he could have had 15 interceptions but had five drops. . . .
It's little wonder Mike Mularkey resigned as coach of the Bills, given owner Ralph Wilson's indication that he plans to be more involved in running the team. Wilson, according to former Bills employees, already is way too involved. During games, he sends messages to the coaching box complaining about calls and pointing out trends. Wilson also is known to pester the head coach and general manager, taking up hours and hours of their workweeks with phone calls. . . .
ADVERTISEMENT The Broncos have legitimate interest in Dolphins RB Ricky Williams even though Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell both played well last season. The thinking is coach Mike Shanahan would rather have one great back carry the load than divvy it up among multiple backs. And Shanahan always has thought Williams would be a great fit in the Broncos' offense. . . .
The Browns need some pass-rushing help and have some cash and cap space to find it. The problem is there aren't many pass rushers available. One player who could be a good match for Cleveland is 49ers OLB Julian Peterson, who is about to become a free agent. He could be a nice fit in coach Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense, and Peterson should be a much better player in 2006 than he was in 2005, when he still showed the aftereffects of an Achilles' tendon injury. . . .
The Titans are thrilled CB Pacman Jones has made a commitment to be part of the offseason workout program. Jones needs guidance in three areas: conditioning, technique and off-the-field maturity. The team will try to take Jones back to square one. He missed all of training camp, and it showed. Late in the season, Jones appeared worn out. Coaches also will stress that he must improve his tackling. . . .
The generally accepted wisdom is teams improve at defending the run by practicing hitting and tackling. But the Bears credit their improved run defense to their walkthrough practices, of all things. They go through an unusually detailed and tedious walkthrough three times a week. In the course of 30 minutes, the Bears run up to 50 plays against every rushing front they anticipate seeing. The first rep for each play is for the benefit of defensive linemen. The second rep is for linebackers and defensive backs.
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