Daunte cleared, ready to battle

BY JEFF DARLINGTON

jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com

Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper is ready for a battle. And at least for the short term, Miami might just be prepared to give him a shot.

Culpepper wrote in an e-mail that he received medical clearance from the Dolphins on Tuesday -- the same day the team acquired quarterback Trent Green in a trade with Kansas City. As a result, he plans to fully participate in an offseason practice today, as well as this weekend's final minicamp, and he will not yet ask to be traded or released.

Culpepper first received medical clearance from Birmingham, Ala., surgeon James Andrews on Monday, which he also needed to be able to compete.

''Andrews did a thorough exam with X-rays and gave me a very positive report and clearance for this week's mini-camp,'' Culpepper wrote Tuesday. ``Today, the Dolphins also cleared me so I am preparing to practice tomorrow [Wednesday].''

As for Green's arrival? Bring it on, Culpepper wrote.

''My position on Trent is that the Dolphins should get the best players that they can and let them compete for the starting job,'' Culpepper wrote.

The problem for Culpepper is this: The Dolphins have five quarterbacks on the roster -- four of whom are being paid lucrative salaries. The team is not expected to keep more than three quarterbacks, which means one of those highly paid options is likely out.

Since Green and rookie John Beck are essentially guaranteed a spot, that leaves Cleo Lemon and Culpepper as the likely options. Lemon just signed a one-year tender offer with the team as a restricted free agent.

Does that leave Culpepper as the odd man out? A team source said it would be ''very difficult'' to keep him in the plans. However, Culpepper wrote he is prepared to compete for the job and will not ask to be traded or released.