Ex-Bengal Kitna is Lions No. 1 QB

The Detroit News reported today that former Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna will be the Lions starter. The chance to start again in the NFL is exactly what Kitna wanted when he decided to leave the Bengals after five seasons. The on-again, off-again starter during 2001 and 2002, Kitna had his finest NFL season in 2003, leading the Bengals to a six-game improvement.

But he had been Carson Palmer's backup the past two seasons.

This from the Detroit News: Coach Rod Marinelli designated Jon Kitna the starter in his precamp news conference Thursday. Josh McCown will be the backup, with Dan Orlovsky, a rookie in 2005, in the No. 3 spot.

There was little doubt Kitna would go to camp as the starter, based on his performance in the offseason workouts, but Marinelli quashed any questions or controversy.

"I think there were three things that really went through my mind," Marinelli said. "I thought the time was right. He really had an exceptional offseason. The competition was there.
"I think this team really needs veteran leadership. He really brings something special to the table in a leadership role, too. I want to move away from distractions. The team doesn't need distractions."