Four years ago, Daunte Culpepper was one of those guys that fantasy owners drooled over. He’d hurl the ball as far as possible, Randy Moss would come down with it, he’d do that little dance where he rolled one fist over the other, and everyone said, “Man, he’s really good.”

Then the Vikings traded Randy Moss and thought they got an equivalent receiver in that year’s draft (we’ve seen how well Troy Williamson has done thus far), and Daunte Culpepper went from great quarterback to a guy that couldn’t read a defense to a guy that couldn’t read a defense with no ligaments in his knee.

And now, Daunte has decided to retire.

“After taking a long look at my career and my personal convictions, I have decided to begin early retirement from the NFL effective immediately,” Culpepper said in an e-mail.

“Since the beginning of training camp, I was told my opportunity would come when a quarterback gets hurt. I cannot remember the last time so many quarterbacks have been injured during the preseason,” Culpepper said. “I have been strongly encouraged from family, friends and league personnel to continue to be patient and wait for an inevitable injury to one of the starting quarterbacks in the league.

“I would rather shut the door to such ‘opportunity’ than continue to wait for one of my fellow quarterbacks to suffer a serious injury. Since I was not given a fair chance to come in and compete for a job, I would rather move on and win in other arenas of life.”

Don’t feel too bad for Culpepper, who had a hundred million dollar deal and probably isn’t strapped for cash. Of course, Michael Vick had a very similar deal and, well, we know his financial situation right now.

Stay away from the pitbulls, Daunte! Stay away!