ESPN is reporting that Daunte Culpepper has agreed to a two-year deal with the Lions and will sign Monday. I can't confirm the terms of the deal or if one has been completed, but after talking to a variety of team and league sources I'll repeat what I wrote last week – the Lions expect to sign Culpepper before next Sunday's game at Jacksonville.

The intent is to make Culpepper the starter as soon as possible while also securing his services for next year. The Lions run one of the simplest offenses in the NFL and Culpepper should have no trouble picking it up. Dan Orlovsky, who'll make his fourth start Sunday against Chicago, will serve as the No. 2 quarterback once Culpepper settles into his role, and Drew Stanton will be No. 3. Unless Drew Henson plays against the Bears, he still has practice-squad eligibility remaining and could re-sign.

Culpepper, who's representing himself in negotiations, has not returned multiple e-mails in recent days seeking comment. Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Friday communication was still open with Culpepper and fellow free-agent quarterback Tim Rattay, though I can report that the Lions have not had any contact with Rattay or his representatives since shortly after his workout two weeks ago.

Knowing this was the likely scenario, I asked Orlovsky on Friday if he thought his play Sunday would have any affect on the Culpepper deal and who starts the rest of the season.

"You have to ask the people who make those decisions," he said. "My play affects one thing and that's whether we win or lose in my opinion. It's nothing I consume myself with or worry about."

On Friday, Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Orlovsky's play would have no impact on the team's pursuit of a veteran quarterback.

"There's nothing in that," he said. "We go out and we research the men that were out there and that would not influence good or bad with what our decisions would be."

True enough, it seems the Lions have settled on a new starting quarterback without giving the two youngsters on their roster a true shot at winning the job.