Chase Daniel scoffs at any perception of a battle with veteran Luke McCown as the backup to Drew Brees at quarterback for the Saints. Two days before their preseason opener, he insisted he was looking in the other direction.

“What competition?” Daniel said. “I am trying to take Drew Brees’s spot. I don’t see a competition with any other quarterback but Drew on the roster right now.”

On Wednesday, Brees said he had told Daniel that if he were not thinking about taking the starting job away from him, then he was thinking the wrong thing. Clearly, that message has gotten through even though Daniel, or anyone else, has zero shot to supplant Brees.

McCown, a tall (6-feet-4), strong-armed nine-year veteran who started the regular season opener for Jacksonville last year, signed with the Saints in June while Brees was in contract negotiations. He has completed 184-of-316 passes with nine touchdowns and 14 interceptions, starting nine times.

Daniel, entering his fourth year with the Saints, is shorter (6-0) with less experience, completing 6-of-8 passes for 45 yards. But he has the Brees seal of approval and was the No. 1 quarterback for New Orleans all offseason while Brees sat out.

“I thought it was good for him this offseason to be in a position where he is the guy,” Brees said. “He was running with the ones and having to exert himself and be the leader.”

Daniel and McCown should play extensively against Arizona on Sunday, although interim coach Joe Vitt would not reveal the plan for his quarterbacks.

Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on twitter @CBSSportsNFLNO.