No, it isn’t Daunte Culpepper who worked out with the team on Monday and apparently left a good impression. San Francisco’s new veteran quarterback is no other than Josh McCown who signed a 1-year contract on Wednesday for the minimum of $810,000.

 

McCown spent 8 seasons in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers. In 47 games he completed 57.7% of his passes and threw 35 touchdowns and 40 interceptions for a career QB rating of 71.3. He never finished a season with a rating of 80 or higher.

 

The veteran played in the UFL for the Hartford Colonials last season where he led the league with a 79.3 QB rating, while throwing 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He only wanted to continue his professional career as a player if he received an offer from an NFL team. While waiting, he became an assistant coach at Marvin Ridge High, North Carolina. And then the 49ers called.

 

49ers quarterback coach Geep Chryst worked with McCown in Arizona and Carolina. This may have been a reason why the 49ers signed the veteran, as he is familiar with the West Coast Offense. “For myself, it was the chance to work with Geep again and the chance to work with coach Harbaugh, which really excites me,” McCown said.

 

Alex Smith is a clear frontrunner for the starting job after an impressive week in training camp. Josh McCown will certainly push Colin Kaepernick for the number 2 spot, though the 2 picks during his first practice session may suggest that he needs a few more reps.

Daunte Culpepper worked out for about 30 minutes yesterday and left a positive impression, though Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman would not say if the 49ers were going to sign the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

Tight End Nate Lawrie, who signed with the team on Sunday, caught passes from Culpepper during yesterday's workout. Lawrie thinks that Culpepper still got what it takes to play in the NFL. "The guy can play, he can throw the ball. That's what it all boils down to." Nate Lawrie and Daunte Culpepper were teammates at the UFL's Sacramento Mountain Lions last season.

The options behind Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick are getting slim. Undrafted rookies Jeremiah Masoli and McLeod Bethel-Thompson are currently on the roster but it would be a massive surprise if either of them were on the depth chart once the regular season starts. Available free agents include names like Charlie Frye, J.P. Losman and Troy Smith who started 6 games for the 49ers last season. So maybe signing Daunte Culpepper doesn't sound like such a bad option after all?

Greg Roman considers keeping Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick as the only quarterbacks on the roster. "You have a decision to make: Do you carry two quarterbacks or three?" he said. Three quarterbacks obviously mean less reps for Smith and Kaepernick in practice.

Both sides will probably come to a decision next week. Then we'll know if Daunte Culpepper is going to be a Niner.

During a conference call on Saturday head coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned that bringing in a veteran backup quarterback is a possibility if the right person is available. It didn’t take the 49ers long to take serious steps in this direction. They invited Daunte Culpepper to work out with the team on Monday.

 

Daunte Culpepper was a first round pick for the Minnesota Vikings in 1999 and has 3 Pro Bowl selections. He was never the same after sustaining a knee injury in 2005. From 2006 to 2009 he had stints with the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions but never had a QB rating of 80 or higher in those 4 years.

 

The 34-year old veteran played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League last season and completed 61% of his passes while throwing 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

 

Culpepper has 11 years of experience as an NFL player and a career QB Rating of 87.5. The veteran would become the number 3 on the depth chart with Alex Smith currently ahead of rookie Colin Kaepernick in the battle for the starting job.

 

After Monday’s tryout we may know more about Daunte Culpepper being the right person for the backup spot.