Culpepper - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer THE Gleaner's Charmaine Austin caught up with Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Daunte Culpepper during his recent visit to the island.
Q: Why football and not some other sport?
DC: I played football coming out of high school but during high school I played basketball, baseball and weightlifting. When I went to college after football season was over, I was tired so I decided to do one and I chose football.
Q: With the increase in black quarterbacks in the NFL, what role or advice do you have for players?
DC: Keep your head up regardless of any adversity you may experience. Through hard work success will happen.
Q: Is there added pressure on you to perform as a black quarterback?
DC: Luckily, no. Randall Cunningham, Doug Williams and guys like that, they were the pioneers. They broke the ice and paved the way for guys like myself and Donovan McNabb for example are coming through and get the same opportunities like anybody else. I'm glad they paved the way for us so we can pave the way for other young, black quarterbacks coming up.
Q: Do you think you have handled the pressure of being a hot, young quarterback from Central Florida?
DC: Most definitely. I have a good mom and she grew me up right. The key is to treat everyone with respect so that you in turn can get respected. I live my life like that so no matter how big I get or how famous I get I'll always be the same.
Q: Do you realistically see yourself winning a Super Bowl ring?
DC: I see it. I definitely see it in the future. I think we have a good enough team to do it.
Q: Your hands are small. Is this a big problem as some analysts make it out to be?
DC: I have short fingers but they fit the football perfectly so it's okay.
Q: What do you want your legacy to be?
DC: I want to go out as one of the best players ever and I gonna work hard to do that.
