Former Pro Bowl QB Culpepper Retires

Daunte Culpepper, who starred at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings before a major knee injury in 2005 curtailed his career, announced his retirement in an e-mail yesterday morning, saying he has simply grown tired of fighting for one more opportunity.

The 31-year-old was the Vikings' first-round draft choice in 1999, became their full-time starter a year later and teamed with Randy Moss to pile up yards and touchdowns at an impressive rate.

But he hurt his right knee in October 2005, never played for the Vikings again and never seemed to reach his previous Pro Bowl level, either.

"When free agency began this year, I had a new sense of excitement about continuing to rebuild my career in the same way that I had rebuilt my knee after my catastrophic injury in 2005," Culpepper said. "Unfortunately, what I found out was that the league did not share any of the optimism about me as an unrestricted free agent that I expected. In fact, there was an overwhelming sense that there was no room for me."

· JAGUARS: Tackle Richard Collier is making gradual improvement from gunshot wounds suffered early Tuesday but is "not out of the woods yet," his agent told the Florida Times-Union. Collier remained in critical but stable condition at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, but agent Jeff Jankovich said he was encouraged by what limited knowledge he has of Collier's condition.

· RAVENS: Baltimore agreed to terms with former Bengals tackle Willie Anderson on a three-year, $11 million contract. The addition of Anderson, 33, who is scheduled to sign his contract at the Ravens' training complex this morning, comes days before the Ravens open the season against his former team.

· BENGALS: The NFL has decided to recognize wide receiver Chad Johnson's legal name change to Chad Ocho Cinco. The new name will be on the back of his uniform for the season opener in Baltimore on Sunday. The wideout had his name changed in his home state of Florida last week.

· BILLS: Starting linebacker Angelo Crowell was placed on season-ending injured reserve yesterday in a surprise move that came after he elected to have surgery on his left knee.

· BROWNS: Linebacker Antwan Peek suffered a season-ending knee injury, Coach Romeo Crennel said. Peek ruptured his right patellar tendon while running during Wednesday's workout.