Culpepper calls it quits

Culpepper: Put an end to his nine-year career in NFL

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Quarterback Daunte Culpepper has announced his retirement after failing to find a team for the new NFL season.

The 31-year-old was released by the Oakland Raiders at the end of last year and was offered back-up roles in Green Bay and Pittsburgh.

However, he turned both teams down in the hope of competing for a starting job somewhere else. With the campaign about to get underway and no deal on the table, he's now decided to call it a day.

Culpepper passed for 22,422 yards and 142 touchdowns during his nine years in the NFL and was a three-time Pro Bowler.

His most successful time came with Minnesota, the team who selected him with the 11th pick of the 1999 draft, when he formed a lethal double act with wide receiver Randy Moss.

A serious knee injury slowed him down and in 2006 Culpepper was traded to the Miami Dolphins where he played just four games. Oakland snapped him up but he made just five starts for the Raiders before being released.

Ocho Cinco

Elsewhere in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals have confirmed that Chad Johnson has now legally changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco.

The receiver made the switch last week in Florida as a reference to the number he wears - Ocho Cinco being 85 in Spanish.

Now the Bengals will list the player formerly known as Johnson under his new name, including on the back of his jersey in Sunday's season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

Ocho Cinco has led the team in receiving yards for the past six seasons, finishing last year with 93 catches for 1,440 yards and eight touchdowns.