Kiffin could keep Raiders starting QB a secret until gametime
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Lane Kiffin is closer to picking his starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders' season opener against Detroit. He just may wait until gametime Sept. 9 to announce the decision.
Kiffin said he could tell Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper who won the job as early as Sunday, but wants to keep the decision under wraps to make the Lions prepare for two different quarterbacks. Culpepper was sharper in the final exhibition game Thursday at Seattle, completing 11 of 19 passes for 108 yards and leading the offense to its only touchdown in a 19-14 loss. But Culpepper also threw an interception. McCown started the game and went 5-for-12 for 75 yards in four series.
"They both did well but could have played better," Kiffin said Friday. "It was not their best game."
Culpepper is not as familiar with the offense as McCown after signing with the team July 31 when it became apparent that top draft pick JaMarcus Russell would not be in camp anytime soon because of a contract dispute. Russell remains unsigned and the Raiders could enter the season without their quarterback of the future on the roster. That leaves the job to either McCown or Culpepper.
"Whatever my role is, I accept it," Culpepper said after the game. "That's how I'm going forward with it. If they feel I'm ready to play, then I'll be ready mentally. If not, I'll be ready to help out in every situation. So in my mind, it really doesn't matter. Obviously I want to be out there. But I don't want to miss the whole fact that I have to get ready to go out there."
Culpepper has shown that his surgically repaired right knee is healthy this preseason. He's thrown four touchdown passes with only one interception as he tries to put last year's disappointment in Miami behind him. After throwing 39 touchdown passes in 2004 in Minnesota, Culpepper battled injuries the past two years and had just eight TD passes and 18 turnovers. That led to his release by Miami in July and his late signing with the Raiders.
McCown was acquired in a draft-day trade with the Lions, hoping for a chance to prove he can be an NFL starter. McCown made 22 starts with Arizona before backing up Jon Kitna in Detroit last season.
