FINALLY, CULPEPPER THE AGENT GETS THE JOB DONE

We’ve obtained the details regarding quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s contract with the Lions. (But not from Culpepper; we don’t want to get him in trouble his first week on the job.) Per a league source whose last name doesn’t rhyme with “bell pepper,” the newest addition in Detroit will receive a $40,000 signing bonus and a base salary of $730,000. Prorated to account for the passage of nine weeks, Culpepper’s salary will be $343,529. His salary is fully guaranteed. Culpepper’s contract also has a $1 million incentive that will be paid if he participates in five percent of the snaps and if he or the team improves in one of various performance categories. And that’s an amazing concession that the Lions made. Though we’re routinely accused of being in the tank for Daunte, we never would have given him such an easily attainable threshold. His reward for solid play in 2008 should be opportunity, not money. As one source observed regarding the incentive clause, “If he gets the $1 million, someone should be shot.” So,basically, Daunte the agent finally gets a long-overdue gold star. For 2009, Culpepper is due to receive a $2.5 million roster bonus in March, and a base salary of $2.5 million. The roster bonus will force the team to make a quick decision as to whether to keep him around. And much of that will be determined by whether and to what extent the coaching staff and/or the front office changes after the current season ends. If the Lions don’t want Culpepper, he’ll be back on the market early in the free-agency period, giving him an opportunity to sign with a team early, spend the offseason getting ensconced in the offense, earning a spot on the depth chart (even if it’s a No. 2 slot), and contributing to his new team’s attempt to compete for the postseason in 2009.