That year, the draft was held at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Quarterbacks were selected with the first three picks as Tim Couch (Browns), Donovan McNabb (Eagles) and Akili Smith (Bengals) went 1, 2 and 3.
Six of the seven picks to round out the Top 10 resulted in selections of players who each made at least one Pro Bowl, including Hall of Famers Edgerrin James at 4 and Champ Bailey at 7. Culpepper became the fourth of five quarterbacks selected in the first round when Minnesota tabbed him a spot before the Bears selected Cade McNown.
“When I heard my name echo through that draft hall and saw that spotlight shining down on me, I was on cloud nine. But then, out of nowhere, my whole family just stormed the stage with me! It was wild, man, like something out of a movie,” Culpepper recalled. “I couldn’t help but laugh, even though it was a bit embarrassing. They were just so darn proud and excited, never seen anything like it before.”
The “entourage” of family members included adopted mother Emma Culpepper, 84, who made her first-ever plane trip to see the son she’d raised since infancy realize his NFL dream.
“Oooh, boy, if I ever have to ride again, let me ride on Delta,” Emma Culpepper told media members. “I told Daunte, if I fly again, I’m going to always fly first class. They ruined me now. They started it, and they’re going to have to keep it up.”
Giving Emma the experience of a lifetime nearly equaled Culpepper’s excitement at being drafted.
“She deserves everything and more,” he said at the time. “She’s taken care of people her whole life, and now it’s time she gets taken care of and maybe experience some of the better things in life.”
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