McCown to be named the starter . (1 Viewer)

[BustedKnuckles]

Okay ...2 things.

1-after reading this i can`t help but think it HAS to be C-Pepp , unless they were told to ''act a certain way''...c`mon get real.

Raiders coach Lane Kiffin says there's a lot to be said about body language. With that in mind, it looks like Daunte Culpepper is the new starting quarterback for his Oakland Raiders.

Culpepper walked off the practice field with a broad smile Tuesday, and kept it grinning in the locker room after Kiffin told reporters he informed Culpepper and Josh McCown which player won the quarterback competition.

Kiffin said he "might" go public with his decision today. Culpepper's demeanor, coupled with McCown's sighs and frowns, spoke volumes when Kiffin wouldn't.

2-I have a hard time believing that kid kiffin would put mcown in against his former coach who would know his formert qb as well as anyone and be able to gameplan for him .

All this adds up to kid kiffin playing stupid head games with detroit using any advantage he can get....C-Pepp will be sundays starter ....bank it.

Hi bustedknuckle,Is this clipped from somewhere? Do you have a link?

Thanks.

J

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...5/SP2SRUREV.DTLRaiders coach Lane Kiffin says there's a lot to be said about body language. With that in mind, it looks like Daunte Culpepper is the new starting quarterback for his Oakland Raiders.

Culpepper walked off the practice field with a broad smile Tuesday, and kept it grinning in the locker room after Kiffin told reporters he informed Culpepper and Josh McCown which player won the quarterback competition.

Kiffin said he "might" go public with his decision today. Culpepper's demeanor, coupled with McCown's sighs and frowns, spoke volumes when Kiffin wouldn't.

"Can't say," McCown said with a shrug by his locker.

"Don't ask ... I don't want to lie to you," Culpepper said with a laugh one stall over.

As it stands, Oakland's 40-day quest to name a quarterback will most likely come to a close today, four days before Sunday's season opener against the Detroit Lions at the Coliseum.

This sort of secret won't stay secret once everyone in the building catches wind of who's taking all the first-team snaps at practice today.

The competition started in May with McCown, Andrew Walter and JaMarcus Russell. When Russell didn't sign, Culpepper was parachuted into training camp to keep it a three-armed race.

"Whoever goes under that center, we play for him just the same," wide receiver Mike Williams said. "They all bring a leadership and a command that we don't see a difference. These guys, their strong points, you can go into that all day."

McCown impressed with his understanding of the offense and his mobility. Culpepper instantly injected flash into the offense, riding his straight-up talent a long way in lieu of a firm grasp of what he was supposed to be doing.

If anything, prolonged competition at the other positions on offense kept many players from paying much attention to who was throwing the ball.

"As a receiver, you're kind of used to catching throws from all of them," wide receiver Ronald Curry. "It's really no different than other years."

Kiffin hoped to end the debate weeks ago. When asked early in camp if he'd wait until the final exhibition game to name all his starters, he said "we would not go into our last preseason game not knowing what we're doing."

That was July 30, the day before Culpepper arrived and wrecked Kiffin's timetable. By delaying a decision each week, the process leaned in Culpepper's favor because it gave him time to catch up on the playbook.

As the season opener got closer, Kiffin decided it would be worth it to delay his decision as long as possible to make it difficult for the Lions to plan.

"I've never seen it go down that late," McCown said.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

For an organization that prides itself on secrecy, the Oakland Raiders are having a fun time keeping their starting quarterback from the public.

Coach Lane Kiffin said Wednesday he will keep the Detroit Lions guessing whether Josh McCown or Daunte Culpepper will start in the opener Sunday.

"It's simply a matter of always trying to gain a competitive advantage," Kiffin said.

Kiffin said he told the quarterbacks who won the job on Tuesday and that the rest of the team found out during practice Wednesday. Like many NFL teams, the Raiders close most of practice to the media, leaving it up to his players to keep the big secret.

"JaMarcus," receiver Jerry Porter said when asked who would start, referring to No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell, who is holding out.

Porter later threw out names of various former Raiders quarterbacks, ranging from Vince Evans to Donald Hollis to Jeff George, but wouldn't give up the real answer.

"He's not being secretive with us," Porter said. "He's just not telling you. It's a different situation. In the past, you guys have known who the starter is from Day 1, no competition, no anything."

But this year the job was wide open from the start of training camp. McCown and Andrew Walter entered as the two players competing for the job, but the Raiders signed Culpepper a week into camp when it became clear Russell wouldn't sign anytime soon.

The three shared time fairly equally for the first three exhibition games, before Kiffin announced the competition had been narrowed down to McCown and Culpepper. Those two got the bulk of the playing time in the final exhibition game, with neither standing out enough to win the job.

Kiffin hinted Tuesday he might reveal his decision the following day, but has decided to keep the secret to force the Lions to prepare for two possible starters.

"If our coaches think this gives us an advantage, then by all means you do it," McCown said. "If it doesn't, then who cares? No big deal, no harm done, other than some family members that wanted to know. Other than that it's no big deal. I'm all for it as long as it can possibly help us."

McCown admitted he told his wife the decision Tuesday night, but said he hadn't told anybody else. Culpepper wouldn't even acknowledge knowing who the starter will be.

"I don't know the deal. I'm just working," Culpepper said. "I've said from the beginning that no matter what my role, I'm going to help the team as much as I can."

Both quarterbacks have their strengths, but McCown knows the offense better because he joined the team three months earlier than Culpepper. He also does a better job protecting the football, an important attribute because Kiffin has stressed that he will rely heavily on his defense.

Culpepper has more big-play ability, throwing 39 TD passes in 2004 when he was in Minnesota. He has been slowed by knee injuries the past two seasons, when he has committed 18 turnovers while throwing only 18 TD passes.

The Lions say it really isn't a big deal which QB they face because they know both well. McCown spent last year as a backup in Detroit and Culpepper has played against the Lions and their coach, Rod Marinelli, many times during his career.

"Really it doesn't (matter) in a certain way," Marinelli said. "Why I say that is, both are very good veteran players: both right-handed, both can run the boot, both move around very well, both have great arms, they're savvy veterans. So you prepare for one, you prepare for both."

The Raiders also have not announced their starting center, with last year's starter Jake Grove competing with former Pro Bowler Jeremy Newberry for the spot.

"You guys will know on Sunday when we go out on the field," Newberry said of both spots

 

[aardball44]

Great there goes my FBG subscriber contest team.

I took a flier on him, too, as my QB4.It's a long season, though. If Culpepper helps me to avoid elimination once all year he'll have been worth it.

 

[Fantasy Fix Fred]

I think it will be CPep as well, but who really cares...

 

[DerwoodG]

You can say what you want, negative or otherwise, about this situation, but I agree 100% with what Kiffin is doing here. If Detroit has to spend time preparing for a pocket passer AND a bootleg passer, it just gives the Raiders an edge over an already weak Detroit defense. Why, you ask, does a team go to such lengths to beat little ol' Detroit? Probably because little ol' Oakland only won 2 games last year and every opportunity to win a game must be taken. It's the home opener for Oakland, first game for new head coach, and coming off a year where they absolutely sucked. Yeah, I'd use every trick, every advantage I could possible do to win my first game too.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Anyone who said they were sure who the starter would be before this announcement was just kidding themselves.

Well it obviously wasn't Russell since he is un-signed. That left McCown who was there in camp all pre-season and a guy they picked up at the last minute. I never really speculated because I didn't care, but my inclination is McCown starts and when he sucks, they put C-Pep in once he's up to speed.

 

[aardball44]

FWIW, as a Lions fan, I always wanted to see McCown get a shot at the helm when he was with Detroit. It sucks that now that he gets his chance, it's against them. I wouldn't mind seeing him fluorish as a starting QB...I just hope he doesn't heat up until Week Two.

 

[BustedKnuckles]

Watch them trot A.Walters out there

 

[Franknbeans]

-- Sources Say Josh McCown to Start --

Thu Sep 6, 2007 --from FFMastermind.com

The Contra Costa Times reports Oakland Raiders QB Josh McCown is going to start in their regular-season opener Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Although HC Lane Kiffin isn't ready to make an announcement, a person close to McCown and another person with knowledge of the situation confirmed McCown received the nod over QB Daunte Culpepper.

-- Mixed Signals on Raiders Starting QB --

Thu Sep 6, 2007 --from FFMastermind.com

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that there continues to be mixed signals about who will start for the Oakland Raiders this Sunday against the Lions. On Tuesday, QB Daunte Culpepper was gleeful after practice, indicating that he had won the starting job with his solid preseason performance. On Wednesday, QB Josh McCown reportedly took the majority of the snaps with the starting offense, indicating he may start Sunday.

 

[CalBear]

I think they should put them both in the backfield for their first play, McCown under center, Jordan behind him, Culpepper in the tailback spot. Hand off to Jordan, run into the line, pitch back to Culpepper for the flea flicker! It'll be unstoppable!

 

[eefflrat]

Bump for any new news. Just curious, has this actually been confirmed?