Culpepper not allowed to compete

BY SARAH ROTHSCHILD AND DAVID J. NEAL

srothschild@MiamiHerald.com

Daunte Culpepper addressed his situation with the Dolphins after Friday morning's mini-camp practice, saying, ``I definitely expect to be released. I will not be traded.

''I will not agree to any trade,'' he said. ``If I'm traded, ultimately my contract has to be restructured and I will not restructure it.''

Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said he could not comment on Culpepper's situation because general manager Randy Mueller was working on a possible trade and didn't want to jeopardize discussions.

Culpepper said the Dolphins told him during a meeting in front of the whole team Friday morning he had no future with the team and would not be able to participate in practice, other than individual drills, even though he was medically cleared. Culpepper did some running on the practice field, but was reduced to a spectator as new quarterback Trent Green, Cleo Lemon and rookie John Beck took snaps with the offense.

Culpepper left the field about midway through practice. As he left the practice field, he was accompanied by Stu Weinstein, the Dolphins security chief.

''I was told I couldn't participate in anything besides individual [drills] or my rehab,'' said Culpepper, who did get a chance to do some individual passing drills. ``I came in and just got in the weight room and worked out.''

When seven-on-nine drills started on the north field with quarterbacks Lemon and Green working with the first two teams, Culpepper suddenly left the passing drills on the south field. While crossing the end of the north field not being used, Culpepper yelled something over his left shoulder toward the remaining group on the south field.

As Weinstein went into the locker room, Culpepper waved at a fan who shouted, ''Daunte!'' then talked with two people standing in the friends and family section. Weinstein exited the locker room and Culpepper went into the locker room, apparently finished for the day.

According to a Dolphins spokesman, Culpepper just needed to get into the locker room, the locker room was locked and Weinstein was needed to open it.

Culpepper this week began campaigning for his release after being told the Dolphins planned to trade him elsewhere. Because he's under contract, on the roster and medically cleared to practice, the Dolphins must let him participate in minicamp and risk him suffering an injury, thus staying on the Dolphins payroll.

For the morning session, helmets were worn but no pads. First round pick Ted Ginn, wearing No. 19, also practiced.

See what's free at AOL.com.