Scouting the camps: the arrival of Daunte Culpepper in Miami inspires hope. T.O.'s arrival anywhere, but especially in Dallas, inspires hype. And the arrival of training camp inspires a heap of excitement among those who eagerly await the dawn of a new season

When he dropped back to pass during the Dolphins' most recent minicamp, Daunte Culpepper surveyed the field, didn't like what he saw and took off like a runaway locomotive.

Were it any other time, any other place, any other circumstance, it would have seemed as commonplace as a blossoming South Florida orange tree. After all, this is a guy who has averaged more than 75 carries and 30 rushing first downs a year since becoming a starting quarterback in 2000.

But on this particular afternoon eyes were wide and mouths agape as Culpepper put his reconstructed right knee to the test just seven months after he had torn three ligaments. If Culpepper runs this well when training camp begins in two weeks, the Dolphins have a chance to rule the neighborhood.

Despite the injury, Culpepper is back in business with a new address and a new attitude. The Dolphins took a chance--they dealt a second-round pick to Minnesota to acquire him--because they have been treading water at quarterback since Dan Marino retired after the 1999 season.

Now they have a quarterback who two years ago threw 39 touchdown passes and had just 11 interceptions in the same offense he'll be running for the Dolphins. It is a vertical offense that spreads the field and allows the quarterback to change plays based on the way the defense lines up.

Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has much to prove in his new home. In the Miami offense, he'll have to spread the ball around more and lock on to receivers less than he did in Minnesota, where Randy Moss could bail him out of just about any situation. The knock on Culpepper is that when he didn't have Moss, teams could vary their defenses and fool him into throwing into coverage.

"I think (Chris) Chambers will help him because he's a downfield receiver, much more so than (former Viking Nate) Burleson or even Koren Robinson," says an NFC North personnel official. "I think he'll do well."

Culpepper, 29, is one of several veteran quarterbacks with impressive credentials who changed addresses this offseason. Another with Super Bowl aspirations is Steve McNair. The Ravens acquired McNair, 33, from the Titans for a fourth-round pick, and he gives them the skilled veteran they have sought for some time. McNair, a former NFL co-MVP, becomes the sixth quarterback to lead the Ravens since Trent Dilfer won the Super Bowl after the 2000 season.

"Us and Miami, we'll both be better if we get more consistent play from the quarterback," says Ravens G.M. Ozzie Newsome. "Whether it changes the balance of power, I don't know."

A breakdown of some other key quarterback moves:

Hope floats. Maybe the torn labrum Drew Brees suffered at the end of last year won't spoil his debut in New Orleans and he'll benefit from Reggie Bush the way he did from LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. Maybe Aaron Brooks will limit his boneheaded mistakes and learn the way to spell touchdown in Oakland is M-O-S-S. Both should provide shots in the arms for teams needing more consistent quarterback play.

Hope endures. Give the Lions credit. Sure, they drafted Joey Harrington third overall in 2002 and waited three years before they gave up on him. But at least they filled his spot with a cerebral veteran in Jon Kitna and added a gunslinger in Josh McCown to provide some juice when necessary. The 49ers made a similar move, adding Dilfer as insurance if Alex Smith continues to struggle. The playoffs are a long shot, but at least both teams have options.

Hope you're not counting on them too much. The Jets acquired Patrick Ramsey as an option in case Chad Pennington's shoulder fails, the Dolphins obtained Harrington as protection against a Culpepper setback, and the Bears signed Brian Griese as insurance in the event Rex Grossman gets hurt again. If any of them winds up starting, it's time to send the scouts out to look at Brady Quinn.--Tom Silverstein

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