The Saints have a quarterback controversy.

One thing is perfectly clear: after two otherwise meaningless victories, there is a real battle going on under center in New Orleans.

Of course we are not talking about who is going to start the season, unless of course Drew Brees’ injury is still lingering in a couple of weeks.

If that does happen, then this training camp battle takes on an entirely new meaning. But for now let’s keep the panic out of this situation.

The real fun this summer for the Saints has been watching the young gun try to overtake the old pro.

It is a rite of summer almost around the NFL. New guys come in and try to surpass the veteran and earn his stripes.

The real fun is when it is for the starting job. That’s not the case here … yet.

Brees has that job locked down, probably until the day he decides to retire.

Despite a left oblique strain that has kept him out of practicing with the team since Aug. 1, Brees is the guy who will take the snaps when they count. That is if he can.

He says he will be ready. The Saints say he will be ready. So we say he will be ready.

With that question answered, sort of, then the only one to look at when it comes to the most important group of players on any football team is just who will be Brees’ backup.

Competition between the veteran Luke McCown and second-year young gun Ryan Griffin has been close. Both have looked good in head coach Sean Payton’s offense during the opening weeks of preseason play.

Then again so has Logan Kilgore, so maybe it is more about Payton’s system than the quarterback.

That would make a lot of sense, but still somebody will have to pull the trigger and serve as Brees’ understudy.

Really, that’s about the only reason to watch these practice games.

The final score is worthless since most of these games are decided by guys who won’t be around when the final score counts.

Yet for McCown and Griffin the stakes are about as high as you can get.

Both were on the team last year and likely will be again when the Saints kick off the new season Sept. 7 in Atlanta.

The winner of this tussle will be the guy next in line if Brees goes down in a real game. If one week the all-Pro can’t answer the bell, it will be up to McCown or Griffin to fill those very large spikes.

In a way you get the feeling the health of Brees may decide just who gets the spot right now.

If Brees is healthy and happy, then it is easier for the Saints to make Griffin, a fan favorite out of Tulane, as the backup. They can say the young kid has done enough and served enough time watching Brees to step up a spot on the depth chart.

That keeps the fans engaged and when you consider Brees takes every snap anyway, it won’t hurt. Call it giving the public what they want.

But if there is a real chance the backup will play, then McCown is the right choice. He will bring more confidence and calm to a huddle that will be stunned at not seeing their leader back there with them.

Numbers might not mean as much when the bullets become real.

Still, they are impressive so far. Griffin is 29 of 42 for 358 yards and three touchdowns this summer. McCown is 19 of 30 for 166 with a pair of scores and an interception.

Combined they have missed on just 24 for 72 pass attempts.

Of course, those numbers don’t add up to Brees.

So while McCown and Griffin put on a nice show, the only real quarterback question that counts concerns when Brees with be back.

The rest is just a fun sideshow.(Associated Press)

Mark Humphrey