Daunte Culpepper left Miami, like a stray dog, running aimlessly as he looks for a new home.

Culpepper hasn't had a good season in three years. He's coming off a major injury, and many have wondered if his career might be over.

No matter how suspect their futures appear, though, veteran football players can always count on desperate NFL teams.

Enter the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders were poised to start their new franchise quarterback, rookie JaMarcus Russell, but the all-everything passer is ensconced in what appears to be a very long holdout.

So, this is wonderful for Culpepper, right?

Don't be so sure.

Let's not forget that Oakland was the worst team in the NFL last season, and they appeared to be slightly improved this year with the addition of Dominic Rhodes and Russell.

Now, Culpepper is the starter, and he is more of an X-factor than Russell.

Prior to getting hurt in 2006, Culpepper looked awful - a mere shadow of his former self.

Unless he can put the pieces together again, not only will Culpepper feel like an outsider in his new Raider Nation home, he may find that he's fallen into a deep and frightening NFL abyss.