The last time Daunte Culpepper started a regular-season game in Charlotte, he was still the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, and still considered one of the best athletes in the NFL.
On that day, Oct.30, 2005, a hit from Carolina cornerback Chris Gamble tore three of the four ligaments in his right knee.
Culpepper has followed a twisting road since then, one that included a rancorous departure from the Vikings and unfulfilling stops at Miami and Oakland. At the beginning of this season, he announced his retirement.
He couldn't stay away, though, and some team always needs an experienced quarterback. Detroit signed him on Nov.3, and he will start his second game for the Lions on Sunday, when they play the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
Culpepper, speaking on a conference call this week, said the knee injury wasn't actually such a bad thing.
“Obviously no one wants to get hurt because of the pain and the hard road to recovery,” he said. “But as far as me as a person and as a player, I think I had the chance to really sit back and look at the big picture.
“I took the positive out of it and said, ‘hey, I have a chance now, it's going to be awhile before I get back on the field. I had to straighten out some other things in my life and it helped me in the long run.”
Still, he likely tried to come back too soon from the surgery, which helped lead to his and Miami's disillusionment with each other. A conservative estimate for his return was two years. He was back on the field in eight months.
“I think that was kind of crazy but I was feeling good and my leg recovered very well, faster than anybody thought,” he said. “If I could go back and do it all over I probably would have taken a little more time before I got back on the field.”
Culpepper struggled with the Dolphins, had another knee surgery, and finally was released just before training camp in 2007. He signed a one-year deal with Oakland, where he played six games before another injury ended that season. He retired when not able to catch on with a team that he felt gave him a decent shot at starting.
The retirement didn't last long because Culpepper is still just 31, and the Lions, needing a quick fix at the position, thought him worth a try.
“He really is still young in terms of quarterback years,” said Detroit coach Rod Marinelli. “He has tremendous talent and is a great leader. If you have a chance to get a franchise quarterback, which he is and has been, I think you're crazy not to.
“He has a cannon for an arm and great feet.”
Detroit, at 0-9, has little too lose. And as recently as 2004, Culpepper had a career year with Minnesota, passing for 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
His first try as a Lion saw him complete five of 10 passes for 104 yards, with an interception, in a 38-14 loss to Jacksonville. But that, Culpepper believes, was merely Step1.
“It's a work in progress, but I'm excited, I feel good. I think I'm making steps in the positive direction, so we're moving forward.”
Marinelli called Culpepper's first Detroit game “solid,” adding, “I see him just getting better and better as the season goes on.”
Culpepper said he has no problems playing in Charlotte again, and pointed out that he was here for an exhibition the following season.
“Obviously it's in my mind,” he said. “I look at it like this. I am going out there to play and do what I love to do, and that's play the game of football at a high level.”
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