ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions are turning to a former Pro Bowl quarterback for help in trying to win their first game of the season.
Daunte Culpepper has agreed to a two-year deal with the Lions (0-8) and said Monday he would sign it after taking a physical.
Daunte Culpepper, QB
Age: 31
Height: 6-4Â Weight: 260
College: Central Florida
Experience: 9 Seasons
"As a result of doing some research on different places to play, the Detroit Lions seemed to be the best fit for me," Culpepper wrote in an e-mail. "I am encouraged by the commitment of ownership, the vision of management and the great potential of the talent that is on the team."
"I hope to contribute to the team in whatever role coach (Rod) Marinelli needs for me to play," he wrote.
Culpepper, 31, was not expected to arrive in Detroit until late Monday due to prior commitments, so the contract might not be official until Tuesday morning, but Marinelli was excited.
"I've competed against him for a number of years, and he is a tremendous player with a great deal of skill," he said. "When you get a chance to add that kind of player, I don't see how you close your eyes."
Over nine NFL seasons, Culpepper has completed 64 percent of his passes, thrown 142 touchdowns and run for 33 scores. He had career highs in yards (4,717), touchdowns (39) and passer rating (110.9) in 2004 with the Vikings.
"He's a veteran player that has had some great performances and still has excellent arm strength," Marinelli said. "We'll get him to work and see how fast he picks things up and what he can do."
Dan Orlovsky has started Detroit's last four games, but Marinelli wouldn't give any hints as to whether he expected that streak to continue Sunday against Jacksonville.
"I don't see any reason to help our opponents by giving them one quarterback to plan for," he said. "Everyone will find out on Sunday."
Orlovsky sprained his thumb on the first play of Sunday's 27-23 loss at Chicago, but didn't expect it to be a problem.
"It hurt, but it didn't affect my throwing," he said. "The doctor told me it is sprained. That's all I know."
Orlovsky took over as the starter after Jon Kitna was placed on injured reserve with a back injury and has been happy with his progress, even if he hasn't gotten a win.
"I have complete confidence in myself," he said. "I think I can be a consistent, really top-notch starter in this league."
As of Monday afternoon, he said he hadn't been told anything about how his status will change with Culpepper's arrival.
"I was watching the Texas-Texas Tech game and saw it on the bottom of the screen," he said. "Nothing has been conveyed to me at all. The coach has a responsibility to the team -- it is bigger than me. I'm a football player for the Detroit Lions, and that hasn't changed."
Orlovsky insisted that he isn't going to lose any sleep about losing his starting job.
"You can't worry about things like that," he said. "It is hard enough to play against the team you face every week - you can't play against your own brain."
Orlovsky threw for 292 yards in the loss to the Bears, a total that Culpepper has only reached twice in the last three seasons.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
