Culpepper Trade Approved, Finalized

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s trade to the Miami Dolphins was approved Tuesday night.

Scout.com has learned that the Vikings’ trade of Daunte Culpepper to the Miami Dolphins has been approved.

The Vikings traded Culpepper to the Dolphins for a second-round pick earlier Tuesday, pending Culpepper passing a physical. Culpepper’s physical with the Dolphins satisfied Miami officials enough to finalize the trade.

The Vikings will receive Miami’s second-round pick in the 2006 draft.

Culpepper is coming off a serious knee injury in which he tore three of the four ligaments in his knee on Oct. 30, 2005, while being tackled by Carolina’s Chris Gamble. The recovery time is estimated at nine to 12 months.

It officially puts an end to Culpepper era in Minnesota, where he ended his Vikings career with 20,162 yards on 1,678 of 2,607 passing for a completion percentage of 64.4 percent. He threw 135 touchdowns, 86 interceptions and was sacked 228 times for a passer rating of 91.5. He also rushed for 2,476 yards on 454 attempts, a 5.5-yard average, and 29 touchdowns.

He ranked third in NFL history for fewest games (80) needed to reach 20,000 career passing yards, trailing Dan Marino and Peyton Manning.

Culpepper’s 2005 season was marred by a poor start, throwing 12 interceptions and six touchdowns, before his knee injury ended his season seven games into the 2005 campaign.