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**Professor** · 08-23-2007, 12:55 AM

Culpepper to start for Raiders at QB against St. Louis

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Daunte Culpepper will be Oakland's starting quarterback in the Raiders' preseason game Friday night against St. Louis.

Culpepper, who signed with the Raiders as a free agent July 31 after being released by Miami in the offseason, has been taking the majority of reps with Oakland's starters in practice this week but coach Lane Kiffin didn't announce his plans until Wednesday.

"I know Daunte's excited about it, I could tell when I told him," Kiffin said. "He's very excited to get a shot so we'll see what happens."

Culpepper is the third quarterback to start for the Raiders this preseason. Josh McCown started against Arizona on Aug. 11, while Andrew Walter got the nod against San Francisco last Saturday. McCown will work in relief of Culpepper against the Rams, while Walter is No. 3 on the depth chart.

Kiffin hedged, however, when asked if he would name a starter for the regular season following the game with St. Louis.

"I don't know that," Kiffin said. "I'd like to. We'll evaluate this game and maybe we'll go into the next game and have to continue but I'd like to."

Culpepper, 30, has outplayed McCown and Walter throughout the preseason, completing 11 of 20 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. His quarterback rating of 113.1 far exceeds Walter's 71.2 and McCown's 66.0.

But Culpepper has had problems taking care of the ball. He fumbled twice against Arizona and twice more against San Francisco. Three of the fumbles came on snaps from center Jeremy Newberry.

"I'm looking for him to take care of the ball and move the offense," Kiffin said. "We want to score points. We don't want to give it up. He's been very good at that as far as throwing it. Now we've got to get the snap from center and make sure that that doesn't happen (again)."

Oakland's fourth quarterback, No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell, has yet to sign a contract. Talks between the two sides have been ongoing but slow, though Kiffin said representatives from the Raiders met with Russell's agents in Los Angeles on Monday, the first in-person meeting between the two sides since training camp began.

"They're still knocking away at (a contract)," Kiffin said.

**RoyWilliams** · 08-23-2007, 06:35 PM

Well i said he would probably start at the opener.

**BeastJacobs** · 08-23-2007, 06:37 PM

Are they planning on signing Jamarcus Russell?

**bigboy** · 08-23-2007, 07:38 PM

Is anyone as curious as me to see if Pep still has it?

**BU54** · 08-23-2007, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shockey256

Are they planning on signing Jamarcus Russell?

Yes but not yet.

Raiders, Russell meet, but no deal is done yet
Culpepper will start at quarterback against the St. Louis Rams on Friday
By Steve Corkran
STAFF WRITER

Article Launched: 08/23/2007 03:03:21 AM PDT

Coach Lane Kiffin confirmed Wednesday that Raiders representatives and the agents for quarterback JaMarcus Russell met face-to-face Monday in Los Angeles in an attempt to hammer out a contract.

The Raiders selected Russell with the first pick of the NFL draft in April. He attended the team's offseason workouts and all three of its minicamps. However, he has missed all of training camp because he isn't signed.

"They're still knocking away at it," Kiffin said.

When asked if the face-to-face meeting is a positive sign, Kiffin added: "Yeah, it was; anytime they can get together. That's really the first time (in several weeks) they've been together in person, with everybody together at a meeting, so I would assume that would be positive."

Russell's agents, Eric Metz and Ethan Lock, have a long-standing policy of not commenting on contractual negotiations.

Culpepper to start

LINK
http://www.contracostatimes.com/raiders/ci_6696890

**BeastJacobs** · 08-23-2007, 07:50 PM

Dude, he's going to get such a beastly deal out of this. I'm not too curious to see if C Pep has it. Because I know he doesn't, because his knees are toast and he doesn't have Randy Moss or Cris Carter anymore.

**bigboy** · 08-23-2007, 07:59 PM

I knoe he doesnt have them but I hate to think some one can look THAT good and just be done, we'll see.

Russel can sign all he wants he will be nothing this year and this will be the start of a great article in about 5 years titled "Top ten busts"

**BeastJacobs** · 08-23-2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigboy10182000

I knoe he doesnt have them but I hate to think some one can look THAT good and just be done, we'll see.

Russel can sign all he wants he will be nothing this year and this will be the start of a great article in about 5 years titled "Top ten busts"

He had a good couple seasons, but his knees are fried. He's done.