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The big news today out of Lions Land is the curious nature of quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s released statement about Matthew Stafford winning the starting job. If you haven’t seen the statement, I’m including it at the end of this posting.

Here’s where I have a problem with the statement. Culpepper should have spoken with reporters either Monday, when coach Jim Schwartz announced Stafford as the starter, or on Wednesday, when the team and reporters return to Allen Park.

Basically, Culpepper did not want to answer any questions about the situation. The statement essentially says that he will not discuss the situation -- and he may not make any more public comments for the rest of his life as a Lion.

OK, that’s his right.

But it’s not as honorable as facing the music in defeat or in an uncomfortable situation. When Jon Kitna made fun of troubled defensive line coach Joe Cullen, Kitna faced the music and spoke with reporters. When center Dominic Raiola had a heated episode with fans, he faced the music and spoke with reporters.

Culpepper just doesn’t look good doing this, but he did it so that reporters won’t hound him all year. If he had just referred to his Athlete Media Training Manual (OK, no such thing), he would have seen that he was not the story yesterday. Stafford was. All Culpepper had to do was offer some tried-and-true platitudes. Here’s an example.

Question: “Daunte, are you disappointed in losing the competition?”

Culpepper: “Not at all. It was a good and fair competition and I think Coach Schwartz made the decision he thought was the best.”

Q: “Do you think you should be the starter?”

Culpepper: “Coaches make those decisions. I just play.”

Q: “Do you want to be traded?”

Culpepper: “Martin Mayhew makes those decisions. I just play.”

There you go. End of interview. Thanks, Daunte.

If Culpepper flips further into his Athlete Media Training Manual, he will find the section that says reporters are like hungry packs of dogs. The more you deny them, the hungrier they get. (Coincidentally, they both also can develop mange)

NFL players are required to speak with reporters once every week and there will be a request made for Culpepper very early Wednesday. Sure, Culpepper can use the old Shaun Rogers “it’s a’ight” answer for everything, but it doesn’t work very well. Chances are Culpepper will be asked this week why he chose to make this statement and whether it was suggested by a coach or a staff person.

Get your roll on, Daunte. The ugly little dance with the media has begun.

This is Culpepper’s statement in its entirety:

“Now that the debate is over and the decision has been made regarding the starting quarterback in Detroit, I would like to make the following statement today so that tomorrow I can put all of my energy into helping our team prepare for our opponent.

“The reason I agreed to restructure my contract in order to stay in Detroit was because I knew that I would have a chance to have a full off-season for the first time in over three years. I also knew that I would have an opportunity to finally compete against whoever the Lions brought in whether via free agency, trade or the draft. When the Lions selected Matthew Stafford first overall I was excited. My position is that if you want to be the best you have to beat the best. Coach Schwartz gave me a fair opportunity to compete for the starting job and now the decision has been made that Matt is the best quarterback in Detroit. I support the decision and I am ready to settle into my role. Matt is a great guy and a talented young quarterback. I am confident that he will lead this team to plenty of victories in Detroit for a long time to come. I look forward to helping Matt in that mission in any way that I can this year. My role as his back-up is not to be seen unless needed and not to be heard from unless required. The Lions organization has treated me with respect and class and they can expect the same from me.”

BY CARLOS MONARREZ, FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Lions blog: Culpepper issues curious statement | Detroit Free Press | Freep.com

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