Thread: Frerotte on Culpepper: (fans take note)

from Sid Hartman at startribune.com....posting more than anything for Gus' points about the fan reactions:

Defends Culpepper

Frerotte can't understand the criticism of quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

"I've taken a lot in my career," Frerotte said. "You've got to let it roll off your back. No matter what anyone else says, Culpepper is the leader of this team. He's the quarterback, and he's going to be here for a long time. You're going to have rough games and you must be strong enough to learn from your mistakes and come back and play better next week.

"He just must let the boos roll off his back. When you hear a lot of boos, sometimes it might get to you, but you can't ever let it show.

"I think he's doing a very good job. There's still things he's got to learn. I mean really, this is, what, his fourth year playing? So he's got a long way to go and he's going to be a very, very good quarterback. He has all the skills, all the talent, and we're just helping him along. Every quarterback I've seen has good games and bad games. Steve McNair I've seen play as well as he's ever played and then one game this year, I don't know, he had a bad game and they lost, so that's just how it goes.

"We're not perfect and we all have to learn, and Daunte's no different. And he's getting better and better. He's going to learn from his mistakes and he's going to lead this team a long way."

Frerotte said the fans here could learn a lesson from Redskins fans.

"The fans here in Minnesota are great, except when things don't go well," he said. "I've been in Washington and no matter what, those fans stick with you. That's how fans have to be and you're going to go through some rough roads and you can't give up on people."

And Frerotte, a great leader on this team, is happy with his role as a backup after leading the team to three victories during Culpepper's injury absence.