here you go jc
Quarterback Daunte Culpepper, the subject of trade speculation, isn't saying much these days. But others close to him are weighing in.
New Vikings coach Brad Childress said Wednesday that he and Culpepper talk on a weekly basis.
"You classify rumors as just that, rumors," Childress said Wednesday on "The Drive on Fox" with Chris Myers and Bryan Cox. "There's nobody that knows what Daunte and I talk about except Daunte and I, and I'd like to keep it that way."
Childress said Culpepper's status as the Vikings' No. 1 quarterback has not changed.
"I said in my opening comments... he's a franchise quarterback, and I don't believe a guy loses his position based on injury," Childress said. "So the first thing is, he doesn't need to be injured anymore. He's got to rehab. He's got control over that. I don't have control over that."
Meanwhile, former Vikings receiver Randy Moss told Dan Patrick on Patrick's ESPN radio show that he spoke to Culpepper on Monday night.
"Does he want out of Minnesota?" Moss said, repeating Patrick's question. "I really can't get that feel. What Daunte wants is some clarity. Clarity meaning, where is his future going to be? Is it going to be with them, as a franchise quarterback, or does he need to go elsewhere? … Once he gets clarity, then they can go from there."
Earlier, Moss said he and Culpepper reminisced about their days with the Vikings. Moss said he gave Culpepper some insight on the receiver's new NFL home.
"I gave him a little lowdown on Oakland, the city, the team, the players," said Moss, now with the Raiders. "We just talked about a lot of things."
Moss referred to Culpepper as a "brother" and said the two have a positive relationship.
"I just want to let people know that there's nothing between us but love," Moss said. "But by him and me reuniting would be like a Cinderella story."
Culpepper did not return a phone message left for him.
Tuesday, Culpepper told the Pioneer Press that he had fired longtime agent Mason Ashe and that he planned to take a more "hands-on" approach with his career.
Special addition: The Vikings hired Carolina's Paul Ferraro as special-teams coordinator. Ferraro was the Panthers' special-teams assistant/assistant strength and conditioning coach last season. He is a good friend of Steve Spagnuolo, the Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach, and he started to develop a relationship with Childress when Childress joined the Eagles' staff in 1999.
As defensive coordinator at Rutgers, Ferraro often spent time at the Eagles' complex, honing his coaching craft.
"I'd go down in the offseason and study tapes, and go to minicamps, and training camp," Ferraro said.
This season, along with special-teams coach Danny Crossman, Ferraro's unit was among the best in the NFL, featuring kicker John Kasay and return specialist Steve Smith.
"I was very fortunate to work with those guys," Ferraro said.
He's looking forward to joining the Vikings.
"We played them, so we watched them very closely," Ferraro said. "I'll be looking to improve some things we did here. But this past year, they had a very solid season in special teams."
Foley update: As of Wednesday evening, the Vikings had not completed a contract with Fran Foley, their pick to become the player personnel director. Foley, director of pro scouting for the San Diego Chargers, is in Mobile, Ala., scouting players at for the Senior Bowl.
Running comment: In his Fox radio interview, Childress indicated the Vikings might not be inclined to seek a premier running back.
"We've kind of looked at the free agents that are out there. They're kind of journeyman guys. I know there's Edgerrin James out there. He'll come with a big-ticket price. Jamal Lewis. He'll come with a big-ticket price," Childress said. "What we've done in Philadelphia is kind of done it by committee. So if we can't find that guy, that's the lead dog, that can do it 25 or 30 times a game, we'll go ahead and spread it around a little and keep everybody fresh."
Briefly: Although Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is in Orlando, Fla., for an NFL owners meeting, he is not scheduled to visit with Culpepper. Wilf leaves Orlando today.