text: Sacramento, Calif. (Monday, June 7, 2010) – The United Football League (UFL) continues to stamp its validity into the world of professional football, announcing today that three-time NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Daunte Culpepper has signed with the Sacramento Mountain Lions. Upon inking the deal with the California-based franchise, Culpepper has been reunited with head coach Dennis Green, who currently fronts the Mountain Lions and formerly coached the Minnesota Vikings when Culpepper was taking the snaps.
  “My goal for this year was to get on the field and play football,” Culpepper said of the signing. “When the opportunity came for me to sign with the UFL and play for Coach Green in Sacramento, I could not resist. I am impressed with his approach to the game and to his players.”
  Culpepper will also be teamed up with another familiar face in Sacramento offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek, who was his head coach during his senior season at the University of Central Florida. He finished his college career at UCF with 12,459 yards of offense and also accumulated 108 touchdowns (83 passing) during his time in Orlando.
  “I am also excited to be reunited with my college coach Mike Kruczek as the offensive coordinator,” Culpepper continued. “I am expecting to have a lot of fun running a wide-open offense and being a part of the United Football League. California, here I come!”
  Culpepper threw for 24,153 yards and 149 scores during his 10-year NFL career with the Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions. He had the best statistical years of his career during his time in Minnesota, where he was taken by Green as the 11th overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft.
  “Bringing a player of Daunte’s caliber to the Mountain Lions is a major step forward - not only for the team, but also for the UFL,” Green commented about the signing. “He is a player who will excite the fans here and will be an integral part of the team we are building that we hope can bring a championship to Sacramento. On a personal note, I am delighted to be reunited with Daunte.”
  Adding a player with the name recognition and pedigree of Culpepper brings an obvious boost to the UFL’s own stock, something that Commissioner Michael Huyghue says is a sign of what the future holds for the second-year league.
  “We have always prioritized putting a high-quality product on the field for fans to enjoy and adding Daunte Culpepper to the Mountain Lions roster continues that trend,” he stated. “He is an exceptionally talented player who will bring a wealth of experience and excitement to Sacramento, and the league as a whole.”
  Culpepper will be officially introduced to the Sacramento community this Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. EST when the team unveils its official logo.