Sports Desk

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

PRO FOOTBALL


KNEE INJURY ENDS CULPEPPER’S SEASON


The demoralized Minnesota Vikings surely believed their already dire situation couldn’t become any worse. Then came confirmation yesterday that quarterback Daunte Culpepper will miss the rest of the season with a devastating injury to his right knee.


Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler coming off a career year whose effectiveness had fallen off dramatically this season, tore his anterior cruciate, medial collateral, and posterior cruciate ligaments in Sunday’s loss at Carolina. Once the swelling subsides, the 28-year-old Culpepper will have surgery and several months of arduous rehabilitation. An injury of this nature typically takes a year to heal.


Culpepper was hurt in the first quarter when Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble hit him low at the end of an 18-yard run. Culpepper finishes with six touchdown passes, a league-high 12 interceptions, and an ugly passer rating of 64.4. Last season, he threw for 4,717 yards,39 touchdowns,and only 11 interceptions with a rating of 110.9 – and set an NFL record for combined yardage passing and rushing.


COLLEGE FOOTBALL


USC RECLAIMS TOP SPOT IN BCS RANKINGS USC


and Texas flip flopped again, putting the Trojans back on top of the Bowl Championship Series. USC jumped over the Longhorns yesterday, returning to first place after a one-week stay in second. It’s the first time in the eight-year history of the BCS that the top two teams in the standings switched positions in consecutive weeks.


The margin between USC and Texas is still small – only .0038 – though up from last week, when the difference between first and second in the standings was the slimmest it’s ever been. Third-place Virginia Tech gained on the top two this week, but the Trojans and Longhorns remain on course for a Rose Bowl showdown.


BASKETBALL


PRINCE SIGNS FIVE-YEAR PACT WITH PISTONS


The Detroit Pistons signed Tayshaun Prince to a $47 million, five-year contract extension yesterday, preventing one of their key players from becoming a restricted free agent after this season.


The 24-year-old Prince has averaged 10.6 points and 4.2 rebounds during his three-year career. He is known for his defense, but proved last season he could also produce at the other end of the court. The lanky small forward had career highs in points (14.7), field-goal percentage (48.7), and 3-point percentage (34.1), and was the only Piston to play in all 82 regular-season games.


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