Matthew Stafford and Daunte Culpepper are trying to be low-key as they compete for the Lions' starting QB job.
Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, isn't saying much as he approaches Saturday's exhibition opener against Atlanta at Ford Field. Although he said his first game-like experience will be "cool" and he is "excited about it, for sure," he was almost yawning as he said it.
"I'm not really interested in calling anything my debut," Stafford said Thursday. "I don't really care. I'm just going out there and having fun and playing football again."
Culpepper, the rejuvenated veteran, isn't saying anything. He hasn't given interviews since a media session the first day of training camp. He said he might talk to reporters after Saturday's game.
OC Scott Linehan also is playing down the exhibition opener. Coach Jim Schwartz said he will announce today who will start, but Linehan said: "We're really not all that concerned about who's starting and who isn't."
Asked if one quarterback has emerged over the other, Linehan said: "We haven't gone down that road yet. I think both have emerged as much-improved players from the time we started in the off-season, the time we started in training camp. ... Let's be patient and let it take care of itself. We haven't even played a preseason game."
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