Last week, free-agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper joined PFT Live to make his case for consideration for a roster spot in the NFL. San Fran brain trust Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh apparently were listening.
Or perhaps it was just one big coincidence.
Either way, Culpepper has worked out for the 49ers on Monday, and our corporate paisano Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reports that “[a]ll indications are the 49ers expect to sign Culpepper to a one-year contract.”
As Maiocco explains it, Culpepper wouldn’t join the competition for the starting job. Instead, he’d be the third quarterback, and he’d likely be the guy on whom the Niners would rely if Alex Smith is the starter — and if Smith gets injured and rookie Colin Kaepernick isn’t deemed ready to go on a moment’s notice.
Seven years ago, Culpepper generated the fourth-highest single-season passer rating in NFL history. Since then, his 110.9 has been surpassed by Tom Brady in 2007 (117.2) and again in 2010 (111.0).
Culpepper’s rating comes in higher than Kurt Warner in 1999 (109.2), Dan Marino in 1984 (108.9), and Drew Brees in 2009 (109.6).