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McCown to Oakland?

You've got to love rumors from the owner's meeting.

One of the rumors at the NFL owner's meeting in Arizona is that the Raiders are interested in making Josh McCown their quarterback for the second straight year.

McCown, you may recall, visited the Raiders facility last year but opted to sign a two-year, $6 million deal with the Detroit Lions to compete for the starting job with Jon Kitna.

The McCown rumor started on Sirius Satellite Radio with NFL.com correspondent Pat Kirwan, who may have inside information or may simply be making an educated guess. Either way, it's worth noting Kirwan is extremely close to the USC football program, and is often on the sidelines during games. He's good friends with Pete Carroll and knows Lane Kiffin.

So even if Kirwan is making an educated guess, his background of knowledge is probably better than most.

Besides, it just makes sense.

Since McCown spent the entire season watching Kitna play in 2006, he won't be like Garcia and Carr in that he would be worried about looking over his shoulder should the Raiders land Russell or Brady Quinn.

Since McCown is in the last year of his contract, he could use the season to build up a resume as a starter in anticipation of hitting the open market in 2006.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see McCown traded to Oakland. Detroit would probably pick up nothing more than a late second day pick, maybe a fifth-rounder at best. The only thing that I wonder is why would Detroit get rid of its backup? Kitna is aging and you never know what could happen with injuries. McCown has the most expereince behind Kitna and would be able to step in to start if needed. Without McCown, it would leave Dan Orlovsky.

I'm not saying Orlovsky is a bad QB, but I just don't like the fact that he has no expereince. Either way, this rumor will surely be brought up again or shot down completely, so stay tuned.

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