Minnesota Vikings legendary QB shares thoughts on J.J. McCarthy

"The information I've gotten on him, and I had an opportunity to meet him a few times, he's very sharp. And I like that about him. He asked me, 'What do you think about my situation?' I said it's kind of similar to what I went through."

During the 2005 season, Culpepper suffered torn ligaments in his knee that ultimately brought his career with the Vikings to an end.

"I told him, just do your thing. I have all the confidence in the world in him, based on how he presented himself to me and the film that I've seen on him. I think he's a phenomenal player, and I know he's chomping at the bit to get out there and show a lot of the naysayers that they're wrong."

Earlier this summer, Culpepper had the opportunity to watch McCarthy in action and walked away impressed with what he saw.

"I saw him at practice last week and he looks great," Culpepper said. "He has that it factor, I always say, he has it. And I can see it in his eyes, he's ready to go out and tear it up."

The Vikings kick off the regular season schedule by clashing with the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football at Soldier Field. It will signal the first massive challenge for McCarthy in a starting role with the Vikings, fittingly in a return to his home state of Illinois.