Greg Cote | Thomas says Culpepper is driven for a comeback

BY GREG COTE

gcote@MiamiHerald.com

No current Dolphins player has been with the team as long as Zach Thomas, the fireplug linebacker preparing for his 12th season. Nobody works harder at football or has suffered more as Miami's fortunes sank. Nobody wants more fiercely for this team.

Dan Marino was hanging onto the last of his prime and facing inexorable decline when Thomas arrived, and Zach has since spent most of his NFL life as an eyewitness to the franchise's failings at that essential position.

The Dolphins continue in 2007 to look for their next great quarterback, but Thomas believes he might see him right across the locker room, not 15 paces away.

What better man to defend Daunte Culpepper than one of the greatest defenders in club history?

I asked Thomas on Friday if he thought Culpepper would get a full and fair chance this summer to be the team's starting quarterback. It was sort of a rhetorical question. The answer is no. That seems obvious. Reports are Culpepper will be traded or released soon after the Dolphins' imminent acquisition of Trent Green from Kansas City, and coach Cam Cameron has passed on every opportunity (and again Friday) to indicate that isn't true.

''I hope so. I hope so,'' Thomas answered when asked if he thought Culpepper would be given a shot. ``He can get back to that form. I think he can get even better than he was. The guy is a winner in my book. We all know he came back too early last year. But when he is healthy, he is a beast. He can beat you with running or passing.''

GETTING READY

Culpepper was back on the practice field Friday, and said, ''there's no doubt in my mind'' about him being ready for the June 8-10 mini-camp. Yet Cameron remains coldly distant from the quarterback. On Friday, the coach acknowledged, ''He is getting better, no doubt,'' but declined our request to discuss further.

Culpepper's recent public request to know where he stands ''sooner rather than later'' has gone unanswered. Asked Friday about his status, he said only, ``I'm under contract.''

Cameron apparently believes that either Culpepper isn't mastering the offense mentally or will never be his old self physically.

Again, though: Why not give him an opportunity to refute those doubts or prove them true, on the field, during training camp? Bring in Green and let the two men compete for the starting job while rookie John Beck develops.

Culpepper claims he is ''absolutely'' grasping the new playbook. ''It's a fun offense,'' he said. ``It gets the ball out of your hands fast. I'll continue to grow in it and absorb it.''

SMALL STEPS

As for the physical part, Culpepper is scarred from hurrying back last year and intentionally making measured progress -- none of which means he won't be all the way back (or close enough to be a top quarterback again) by season's start.

''I'm taking a small step every day. I feel good. No real pain, which is a good sign,'' he said. ``I'm not trying to push it. Take it step by step and ease my way into it.''

Thomas is impressed by what he sees of Culpepper's rehabilitation.

''I've never been around a guy who's worked harder with rehab than he has. That's the truth,'' said Thomas, the team's standard-bearer for working hard. ``I never thought he'd have that work ethic. He's driven. When he comes in, there's not much talking. He goes from the rehab room to the weight room and just goes. It's quality work. He's got that fire. You can be driven by doubters. He's driven.''

Thomas smiled, adding, ``He is so competitive. I see that even when we play Ping-Pong. I beat him, by the way. He hates that.''

Cameron made a point Friday of saying, ``My responsibility is to make sure our fans are not set up for disappointment.''

He referred to not relying on Ricky Williams, which proved right.

In Culpepper's case, nobody would expect Cameron to place all of his chips on a rehabilitating player and declare him the starting quarterback in May.

But an athlete who has been through what Culpepper has deserves something, if only as a reward for the determined work that has so impressed Thomas.

It's called a fair chance.

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