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In an article published this morning, Minneapolis Star Tribune staffer Kevin Seifert -- citing a person with knowledge of the situation -- reports the Vikings are gauging Daunte Culpepper's trade value around the NFL. Siefert added the team decided to start shopping him after the veteran quarterback demanded that his 2006 compensation be more than doubled.

The story was initially reported by Profootballtalk.com on Wednesday.

According to Profootballtalk.com editor Mike Florio, the Vikings are seeking a second-round draft pick for Culpepper, but Seifert was unable to confirm that asking price.

As Florio put it Wednesday: "The Vikings undoubtedly would be looking for much more if Culpepper hadn't suffered tears to three ligaments in his right knee on October 30, at the end of the first quarter of a game against the Panthers.

"The Vikings also would be looking for much more if Culpepper's play hadn't collapsed from 2004, in which he put together one of the best seasons ever at the position, to 2005, in which his performance was mediocre at best. ..."

And as Seifert suggested: "A trade for so little compensation would conclude a stunning fall for Culpepper, 29, who put up MVP-caliber numbers as recently as 2004."

Baltimore, Miami, Oakland and the New York Jets are among the teams expected to pursue quarterbacks this offseason.

The Baltimore Sun reported the Ravens might be interested in placing their franchise tag on running back Jamal Lewis and then trading him for Culpepper.

Some have even mentioned the Rams, where former Vikings coordinator Scott Linehan, a Culpepper favorite, was hired as head coach last month.

For what it's worth, Profootballtalk.com advised readers this morning to keep an eye on the Cardinals.

"Even though Kurt Warner recently signed a three-year contract worth $18 million or more, we have a feeling that head coach Dennis Green might be willing to try to bring Culpepper on board," Florio wrote. "He'd likely sit out most if not all of the 2006 season, and then compete with Warner for the starting job in 2007."

While the Rams and Cardinals both seem like a bit of a reach to me, stranger things have happened. ...

Whatever the case, the Vikings now seem willing to jettison their franchise quarterback -- and conceivably install Brad Johnson as their starter -- following a six-week period in which Culpepper has attempted three times to seek an upgrade to his contract.

The last attempt occurred during a Jan. 31 meeting at team headquarters, three people with knowledge of the situation told Seifert.

Culpepper, who fired agent Mason Ashe last month, represented himself during a gathering that also included owner Zygi Wilf, other members of his ownership group, head coach Brad Childress and vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski.

Culpepper, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, asked that approximately $10 million be added to his contract this season -- increasing his total 2006 compensation to a staggering $18 million.

According to Seifert, Wilf "angrily turned down" Culpepper's request and it is believed that no substantive communication has taken place since.

The disagreement is the largest impetus for soliciting trade offers, but Culpepper might also be seeking a fresh start after suffering a major injury to his right knee and being charged with three misdemeanors in connection with an alleged Oct. 6 sex party on Lake Minnetonka.

Pro Football Weekly recently noted that Childress considers quarterback the most important position on the team and that the new coach planned discuss Culpepper's leadership ability, performance and intelligence with current and past players on the team to get a better feel for the situation.

Although his recent actions appear to be rendering those questions moot, Culpepper is by no means buying into the trade talk.

In fact, Culpepper responded to the trade reports in a Thursday afternoon e-mail to ESPN's Andrea Kremer and the Associated Press, saying he's focusing on his rehab and he refuses to waste his energy on the speculation.

"Because I am getting so many requests to comment about reported trade talks, I thought it best to make a clear statement that hopefully won't be misinterpreted. I have found over the years that 'people with knowledge of the situation' are usually the most ignorant, and 'anonymous sources' are usually synonymous with cowards who don't want to go on the record," Culpepper wrote.

"My position has been and continues to be that I am focusing on rehabilitating my knee so that I can come back and play the game I love at the highest level. Until I hear different from [Wilf] or the new 'triangle of authority' at the Vikings I plan on playing quarterback for Minnesota. Trying to delve into speculation, innuendo, rumor or anything else of this nature would be a waste of energy. I choose at this time to spend my energy on getting healthy."

Meanwhile, Culpepper, due a $6 million bonus on March 14, faces the task of learning Childress' west-coast offense while being unable to practice until summer at the earliest. A team taking Culpepper would have to view him as a starter for 2007 and consider playing time in 2006 a bonus.

Culpepper's contract, which Wilf upgraded last summer, calls for him to make $8 million during the 2006 league year. Culpepper contends the Vikings promised last summer to address his contract further after the 2005 season; the team has denied that claim.

Seifert went on to remind readers that news first surfaced at this time last year that the Vikings were shopping receiver Randy Moss, who ultimately was sent to Oakland for linebacker Napoleon Harris and two draft choices.

I would remind you that Profootballtalk.com also broke the Moss story well before anybody else. ...

For the record, no trade involving Culpepper could be finalized before March 3. ... Stay tuned. More on this story as developments warrant. ...

Other notes of interest in Minnesota. ... Also according to Seifert, Mewelde Moore had surgery to repair the sprained right wrist that troubled him for much of the 2005 season. The surgery prevented Moore from participating in the snowmobiling portion of last weekend's Arctic Blast. ...

And finally. ... The team signed free agent fullback Joey Goodspeed, a three-year NFL veteran who started five games for the St. Louis Rams in 2004. Goodspeed played for the Rams in 2003 and 2004 after spending the 2002 season with San Diego.

Goodspeed was released by the Rams at the start of the 2005 season.

Goodspeed entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with Pittsburgh in 2000. He went to training camp with New Orleans in 2001, before joining the Chargers in 2002.