Culpepper Not Giving Up on Lions Job

Matthew Stafford got all the headlines Saturday in Detroit. The first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft completed 7-of-14 passes, but generally looked very sharp, as the Lions beat the Atlanta Falcons 27-26 at Ford Field.

Veteran Daunte Culpepper is fine with that. The man most of America is assuming will back up Stafford started the game for Detroit, and isn't giving up on starting the Lions' season opener in New Orleans Sept. 13.

Not surprisingly, Culpepper isn't saying much to the media. He hasn't talked a lot in recent years, and he was very silent throughout the offseason. He did, however, speak a little after the game Saturday.

"I always think of the three D's," Culpepper said after Detroit's 27-26 win against the Atlanta Falcons in a preseason game Saturday. "There's debate, there's a lot of debating going on. But you guys see that I don't choose to be in the debate. Then, there's the decision, and that's for the coaching staff. And I'm very determined. Those are the three D's that I always consider and that's how I look at it."

Culpepper also spoke glowingly of Stafford, saying he felt the youngster would "be really good in this league for a long time".

The veteran obviously feels like he can still win this job, and he played Saturday like a guy who really does have a shot. He looks to have lost at least 20-25 pounds. For the first time in years, he showed off the quick feet of old, shaking off a couple Atlanta defenders on Detroit's opening drive to pick up extra yards and/or time to throw.

It was just one preseason game, and Stafford will get his chance to run the first-team offense. While it's way too early to declare this a potential Drew Brees/Philip Rivers situation in the making, it does bear watching. Culpepper is reunited with his old Vikings offensive coordinator (Scott Linehan), and he can't be counted out.

Of course, Stafford has the big contract, and the few fans who showed up at Ford Field Saturday seemed to be almost unanimously behind him.

The Lions' next preseason game is Saturday night at Cleveland.