Reports say McCown; Marinelli says ‘it doesn’t matter’

By Anthony Carroll  |   Thursday, September 06, 2007  |  Comments( 41 )

Oakland Raiders
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If there's one word to describe the current Oakland Raiders, it has to be "unpredictable."

From a draft-day Randy Moss trade, to the JaMoney -- er, JaMarcus -- Russell debacle, to the recent third-round cut incident, the Raiders have sent fans on a roller coaster of an offseason.

Five days separated from the official start of Oakland's season, head coach Lane Kiffin sent fans around one more stomach-turning loop.

According to the NFL Network's Adam Schefter, the first-year head coach is expected to announce Josh McCown as the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's matchup with the Detroit Lions.

The news came as a shock to many, as both fans and several team insiders had expected Daunte Culpepper, who signed a deal with the team on July 31, to take over the starting job.

Just hours earlier, ESPNews reported that Culpepper had indeed edged out McCown in the race, and would head into Week 1 as the starter. However, since Schefter's report, ESPN reporter Michael Smith has quietly taken the burden off his employer by saying McCown will now likely be the man in Oakland.

If Schefter is once again proven right, it will become evident that Kiffin didn't base his decision solely on numbers and percentages.

Culpepper turned many heads during the preseason, showing traces of mobility that haven't been a part of the 30-year-old's game since 2004, his last successful stint with the Minnesota Vikings. In four outings the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder completed 26-of-47 passes (55.3 percent) for 308 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also took off on the ground eight times, good for 32 yards.

Though not far off, McCown had an up-and-down preseason that, in the end, was capped off rather boringly.

The 28-year-old ex-Arizona Cardinal and Detroit Lion also attempted 47 passes, and completed 24 of them (51.1 percent) for 352 yards, but he threw no touchdowns or interceptions. He carried the ball just three times for 8 yards.

Statistically, then, Culpepper held the apparent edge.

Perhaps the greatest explanation behind Kiffin's unconfirmed decision, though, is the length each player has been with the team. McCown, who was added on the first day of the 2007 draft, has been a member of the Raider roster 94 days longer than Culpepper, and he might be much more familiar with Kiffin's offensive system.

He might be much more familiar with the Lions' defensive system, too. Though, that reasoning is very unlikely.

Unless you're a conspiracy theorist, then this quote looks pretty fishy:

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

How chilling.

In the end, though, it will simply come down to who is the better-fit quarterback for Kiffin's offense. That is, the player who gives the Raiders the best chance to win in Week 1. As of now, only Kiffin knows whom that is.

"JaMarcus," wide receiver Jerry Porter sarcastically predicted.

For the time being, that's the only certainty in Oakland: Russell won't be on the field anytime soon.

"Really it doesn't [matter] in a certain way," Lions head coach Rod Marinelli recently said. "Both [quarterbacks] 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."

Ironically, Marinelli may be the only person who can calm Raider fans down at this point.

Anthony Carroll, a senior writer for RealFootball365.com, can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal...
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CommentsComments: 41  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
silver&blackDan		01:46 AM
09/06/2007
Rod, you're right it dosent matter who is our QB. #1. the lions have a weak run D,and we are going to run all over you, 2. we are...
No.2
Blastin		01:59 AM
09/06/2007
I am pulling for Daunte as he was impressive and very accurate, even on long balls. I know he is probably better at reading...
No.3
Chief Tom		02:01 AM
09/06/2007
It's gonna be a freakin' circus with McClown as your QB. Hey Glitter&BlackDan;keep dreaming Moron. The Lions are going to beat Scab...
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