NAPA, Calif. (AP) -Art Shell continues to insist the Oakland Raiders' starting quarterback job is open, while Aaron Brooks continues to play as if it isn't.

Brooks has taken the bulk of reps with Oakland's starting offense ever since March when he signed a two-year free agent deal worth more than $8 million. He will be with the starters again Sunday when the Raiders open the preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Hall of Fame game.

Barring an injury, Brooks also is on course to be behind center on Sept. 11 when Oakland hosts San Diego to begin the regular season. Until then, though, the 30-year-old quarterback is content with Shell's view on the things.

``Nah, man, I don't have anything to prove,'' Brooks said Thursday. ``I'm an established veteran quarterback. This will be my eighth season. I did some wonderful things down in New Orleans, (but) I'm here just to get back in the groove and make this team be a better football team.

``Come this season, we expect to win a lot of football games. That's our mind-set,'' he added.

Brooks is coming off the toughest season of his career. He was benched for the final three games of the 2005 regular season after passing for 2,882 yards, 13 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

When New Orleans signed free agent quarterback Drew Brees in the offseason, Brooks was left looking for work.

He still is, at least in Shell's eyes.

``This guy going out with the first group doesn't mean that's where he's going to end up,'' Shell said. ``We've got five games to play in the preseason, and to make a final determination as to who's going to be starting, right now that's not smart.

``I want to see (Brooks) step forward with the receivers we have and be totally comfortable with the system that we have so that he can get in and out of huddles with good tempo, know exactly where he's going with the ball and where his protection scheme is going to protect him,'' he added. ``I think he's doing well.''

Brooks started 82 consecutive games in New Orleans before being benched late in the season in favor of career backup Todd Bouman.

Like Kerry Collins, Oakland's starter in 2005, Brooks has a tendency to force throws. Over the last two seasons, he's thrown 34 touchdowns and 33 interceptions.

But Brooks also is a high-risk, high-reward player. From 2001-04, he averaged 3,690 yards, 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while completing 56.4 percent of his throws.

The veteran quarterback is admittedly anxious to play the Eagles this Sunday, his first game experience since Dec. 12.

``It's going to feel good to get back in the flow of things, back into a real live game situation and getting the contact and anticipation,'' Brooks said. ``I'm looking forward to it. It's basically a test for us, particularly me, to get back in the flow of things.''

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