Monday Notes: Furrey Says Culpepper Has Been Named the Starter

by Sean Yuille on Feb 16, 2009 4:27 AM EST in Detroit Lions Notes

Sunday morning, Mike Furrey was interviewed on Sirius NFL Radio and apparently said that the Lions' quarterbacks have been told that Daunte Culpepper will be the starter in 2009. Though this doesn't sound unrealistic considering Culpepper has previous connections with offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, it's only February. I would hope that the coaches wouldn't name a starter until they actually go through training camp, as handing the job to Culpepper wouldn't exactly send a very good message to the fans.

Although the Lions didn't directly deny Furrey's claim, Tom Kowalski reported on Sunday afternoon that a source said the "team is still exploring its options." This isn't surprising, as the Lions don't want it to become public knowledge if they have already named a starter -- both for draft and publicity reasons.

For the draft, the Lions want the impression to be that they will pick a quarterback. That leaves the door open for a possible trade, though that scenario is unlikely. Even so, it is necessary to keep all possible options open, and the only way to do that is by creating the idea that a QB will be drafted.

For publicity reasons, a good way to piss off fans is by naming Culpepper the starter without having an actual competition. Dan Orlovsky probably won't be back and I'm starting to think Jon Kitna will be released, but having no competition would be an absolute joke. I don't think much of Drew Stanton, but give the guy a chance to show what he's got.

Personally, I believe there is some truth to what Furrey said, but I don't doubt some information wasn't completely accurate. That's not to say Furrey was lying, but I'm guessing things were misinterpreted. The Lions unsurprisingly leaked out to Kowalski that Culpepper hasn't been named the starter, as they don't want that kind of information, regardless of whether or not it is true, to become public knowledge.
The Falcons have put Mike Vick on the trading block, and the Lions thankfully have no interest in him. This is very relieving to hear, as many suggested that Vick could land in Detroit if he returns to the NFL. The speculation wasn't based on anything other than the fact that the Lions need a QB, but it was still a scary thought nonetheless. Vick was overrated as a quarterback and is an awful human being. If he ended up in Detroit, there would have been backlash, to say the least.
The NFL Combine gets underway this week, with the event officially starting on Wednesday. Workouts don't begin until Saturday, but I'm sure there will be plenty to talk about until then, as the media will get access to the 300+ players once they arrive in Indy.

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Oh My!

Seeing Daunte in action last year was a bit of a travisty really. He even had his Moss-esque WR and couldn’t even get the ball to him. At least Orlovsky got the ball to the right guy most of the time. I too find it hard to believer that Stanton is the “answer” to our prayers. You really think the Fords in all of their car troubled glory give the top money to the top QB in the draft though???? My money is on HELL NO!!! Too cheap to fork over the money to an unproven guy. Soooooooo, anyone see a DT in our future?;)

by BERNARDJ on Feb 16, 2009 9:18 AM EST reply actions

Don't believe it or I'm choosing not too

I hope that was misprint or Furry is talking out his rear, The new HC seems like a smart guy and I hope he knows what kind of message it sends giving Culpepper the job when he hasn’t earned. I don’t care if he does have history with the new OC, you let the QBs on the roster you take into training camp complete for the job you don’t give it to him especially when Orlorsky played just as good….

by msivits on Feb 16, 2009 11:53 AM EST reply actions

Orlovsky played much better than Culpepper

DanO is going to be a FA and i doubt they resign him. Kitna will probably be gone as well. That leaves Culpepper, Stanton and Henson.

I’d like to see them snag someone in FA (Simms, anyone) or draft a QB (Freeman? Davis? Painter?) and dump Daunte before he gets the bonus.

I has a blog

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by Jettero2112 on Feb 16, 2009 12:02 PM EST reply actions

Sounds like a disgruntled former employee...

He says that on the Sirius show, but heres what he told the Detroit Free Press:

"In a phone interview with the Free Press afterward, Furrey said he recently had returned from traveling abroad and had not spoken with Orlovsky, Kitna or Stanton in at least four weeks. He said he had not had a discussion with them about Culpepper being named the starter.

“I have not talked to Jon or Danny specifically about that situation,” Furrey said. “I have not talked to Drew at all; I have not talked to him since I left the locker room.’”

It really doesn’t matter whos better at this point, there’s a whole offseason of workouts and player acquisitions, etc, but Furrey sounds like he’s just trying to burn/make his ex-team look bad/get his name out there. I don’t think other teams are going to jump at him after this, because it shows he has no class. The minute he gets cut, he’s announcing the private information to the world. The only thing he has going for him is his charity work, and that does nothing for a football team. Maybe he’ll get lucky and get to be a 3-4th wr, which would be a long shot. Perhaps practice squad. Sorry, he ticks me off and he has always been mediocre at best.

by lions_sucker on Feb 16, 2009 12:35 PM EST reply actions

Furrey just making some waves

I agree with lions_sucker. He sounds like a a bratty little kid that just got punished and he’s lashing out. You know what… it should be the fans who are upset with Furry and his crummy 18 catches last year.

The last thing the Lions would want to do at this point in time is show thier hand with respect to the quarterback situation. With everyone thinking they are taking Stafford, they have all the leverage. He is the only player who is prized enough to alter the top of the draft. I still doubt you’ll see a change in the order of the top five, but you won’t see the top teams shuffle for a tackle. There’s too many good ones. If anyone trades up, it’ll be for Stafford.

My guess is that Furrey really doesn’t know too much here. If there is any truth, it’s that they don’t plan to just hand the job and a new contract to Dan-O, which is smart. That’s actually good news for me. Mayhew knows that Kitna and Culpepper are short-term solutions, so this tells me they are looking elsewhere for thier long-term guy. I look at Furrey’s comments from a reversed viewpoint. He thinks this means that the Lions DON’T draft a quarterback. To me, it appears the opposite of that. Culpepper or Kitna will hold the fort down for maybe a year. Honestly, it’s really looking to me like Stafford will be the pick.

by DrewsLions on Feb 16, 2009 12:58 PM EST reply actions