Oakland Raiders: Matt McGloin status unchanged despite preseason performance

Aug 15, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin (14) throws a pass against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Lions 27-26. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Matt McGloin is a cult hero in Raider Nation, an undrafted rookie who started half of last season that (usually) proves that he *could* be a NFL starting quarterback every time he steps onto the field using a mixture of motivation, confidence, and uncanny ability to make throws that move the chains to prove to the world that he is as good as anybody.

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What pockets of fans believe about McGloin has been on display in the fourth quarters of both preseason games, both in which McGloin brought the Raiders back from sure defeats. Making things interesting against the Vikings where a dropped TD from Jake Murphy prevented a late McGloin rushing TD from being the winning drive before Friday’s game winning TD to Brice Butler gave Oakland their first win of the preseason over the Lions.

In both games McGloin’s stat lines could have been even better if not for wideout miscues with Scott Simonson dropping a TD thanks to a helmet to helmet hit on the goal line against the Lions, but both times McGloin answered back from those letdowns by putting points on the board. Sure he was and is playing third strings, but fans have liked what they are seeing out of The Red Rifle.

Still, that doesn’t mean that the Oakland Raiders feel any differently about McGloin after those performances. With Derek Carr waiting in the wings to be the team’s future franchise quarterback and Matt Schaub being brought in to be the veteran presence, the Raiders still have little use for McGloin even if he has half a season and two impressive late preseason performances under his belt.

That doesn’t mean that McGloin isn’t a valuable asset to the Raiders, after all Derek Carr’s injury status shows that if the team loses a quarterback that McGloin would be a very good emergency option as he has both starter’s experience as well as upside as a second year pro. However the lack of opportunity does mean that McGloin’s future in Oakland probably doesn’t go past his rookie contract unless things change drastically as the former Penn State passer is confident in his abilities and will want a chance to compete for a job anywhere he can get it, if it isn’t going to be in Oakland don’t expect to see the McGloin with the Raiders for the long term.