Wilf: Culpepper deal not done, but not out: Raiders, Dolphins considered favorites to acquire unhappy quarterback.

Byline: Sean Jensen and Don Seeholzer

Mar. 10--Daunte Culpepper's days in Minnesota are waning. Although owner Zygi Wilf disputed reports that the Vikings had already agreed to trade Culpepper, he made it clear late Thursday that a deal soon could be consummated. "I can assure you that there has not been a deal made as of right now," Wilf said late Thursday. "If there had been, we would be discussing it right now, although I couldn't go into any details. C* I am not ruling out the fact that talks might be ongoing with several teams." The Oakland Raiders, where Culpepper would reunite with Randy Moss, and the Miami Dolphins are considered the favorites to land the former Pro Bowl quarterback. Culpepper could not be reached for comment Thursday night. Culpepper sent an e-mail to several media outlets Wednesday stating his desire to be traded or released. That caused Wilf, who had earlier said he expected Culpepper to return to Minnesota for the 2006 season, to reconsider his stance.

"We certainly would have liked him to lead our team," Wilf said. "But he seems to feel that his future is best served somewhere else. We have to move on for the best interests of our team." Hours after learning of Culpepper's e-mail to reporters, the Vikings started shopping the quarterback to other teams, an NFL source said. ESPN reported that Culpepper would be traded within 24 hours, while the NFL Network, citing unidentified Vikings sources, reported a deal was already in place, although a trade cannot be finalized until the free agency period begins at 11:01 tonight. The New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals also could have interest in Culpepper. But given Culpepper's health status -- he tore three of four ligaments in his right knee Oct. 30 against the Carolina Panthers -- the return on a deal could be minimal for the Vikings. A league source said teams would not part with a first-round pick and that a conditional pick was expected.

Culpepper also faces misdemeanor charges of lewd conduct in the wake of a boat party last October on Lake Minnetonka. The quarterback plans to challenge those allegations in court. Culpepper, who fired agent Mason Ashe in January, has frustrated the Vikings with requests to rework his contract and by remaining in Florida to rehabilitate his injured knee. He has resisted the team's intent for him to familiarize himself with coach Brad Childress and the club's new West Coast offense.

Culpepper said he had asked the Vikings for permission to speak to interested teams but that the request was denied. In his e-mail Wednesday, Culpepper wrote: "If a trade does not happen, then I am asking the Vikings to terminate my contract as soon as possible."

Wilf said that correspondence caused him to re-evaluate Culpepper as his "franchise quarterback." "From the day I became owner, there hasn't been anybody who has been more interested in working with Daunte than me," Wilf said. "We did everything we possibly could, to reach out and try to work with Daunte, to get him back to the form that we're used to. But Daunte has responded that he wants to change the direction of his football career, and the Vikings are not a part of his plans. We're disappointed, and I'm sure some of the players are disappointed. But we have to move forward ...