Culpepper retires at 31

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

Culpepper, 31, was the Vikings’ first-round draft choice in 1999, became their full-time starter a year later, and teamed with wide receiver Randy Moss to pile up yards and touchdowns.

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

“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.”

The Miami Dolphins acquired him in 2006 in exchange for a second-round pick, but Culpepper played only four games before being shut down because of continued knee problems. He was sacked 21 times in those four games.

Last season, the Oakland Raiders took a chance on Culpepper, and he made five starts there.

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Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier is making gradual improvement from gunshot wounds but is “not out of the woods yet,” agent Jeff Jankovich told the Florida Times-Union.

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The Baltimore Ravens agreed to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson on a three-year, $11-million contract.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection was cut by the Bengals recently after refusing to take a pay cut.

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The NFL decided on Thursday to recognize receiver Chad Johnson’s legal name change to Chad Ocho Cinco. The new name will be on the back of his Bengals uniform for the season opener in Baltimore on Sunday. The receiver had his name changed in his home state of Florida last week.

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Buffalo Bills starting linebacker Angelo Crowell was put on season-ending injured reserve in a surprise move that came after the player elected to have surgery on his left knee.