Lions' Colletto won't 'embarrass' Drew Stanton by playing him

By NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • October 30, 2008

Offensive coordinator Jim Colletto explained today why the Lions aren’t playing backup quarterback Drew Stanton.

“The experiment to throw him in there right now wouldn’t be fair to him at this point,” Colletto said.

Why?

“Well, he’s not ready to do that yet,” Colletto said. “I’m not going to embarrass the kid just to prove a point to somebody else.”

Stanton was a second-round pick out of Michigan State last year. But three days into training camp, he went on injured reserve because of a knee problem. He was not allowed to practice the entire season, per NFL rules.

In the off-season, Stanton had his mechanics changed for the second time in two years and even struggled to throw a spiral at times. He played in two preseason games this year, then suffered a thumb injury that kept him out of the last two exhibitions and the first part of the regular season.

Colletto said Stanton is throwing the ball way better than he ever has, but he is still far behind Dan Orlovsky, a fifth-round pick in 2005. Orlovsky has made only three NFL starts, but he has had years' more practice time.

“The big difference is one has played a lot,” Colletto said. “Drew is like a rookie. I mean, he didn’t do anything last year, and that’s not his fault. I mean, he didn’t do anything.

“You need another preseason with him to really get a sense of that.”

Told the fans wanted to see Stanton to evaluate him for the future, Colletto said: “Well, it’s hard. The fans want a lot of things. So do we. But I’m not going to put a youngster in there and embarrass him in a live NFL game where the guys on the other side don’t care who the quarterback is till he’s real comfortable with what he’s doing. And he’s getting closer and closer to doing that.”

Stanton has taken almost all of his reps with the scout team the past three weeks because Orlovsky needed all the reps he could get, Colletto said. But Stanton took about 20% of the reps with the main offense Wednesday because Orlovsky has played enough now where he doesn’t need to take them all.

Will Stanton play this year?

“Well, I don’t know,” Colletto said. “We’ll see how that all plays out.”

I hate the Lions.

“You need another preseason with him to really get a sense of that.”

So we're going into next year with no idea if we have a future QB on the roster?

I actually agree with this, to a point. He should get a couple starts down the stretch, but I don't want to rush him and ruin him.

True, my point is that Stanton is so far behind that we won't know if he's legit going into the draft. So we'll have Dan O as a FA (he'll bolt if he isn't the projected starter IMO). Kitna is washed up, but a decent backup. We'll have high picks and not know whether to burn another one on a QB.

Yeah, I can see that, I guess I just hope we don't take a QB early regardless. I'd rather sign a mediocre veteran while we build up the rest of the team.

Yeah, I can see that, I guess I just hope we don't take a QB early regardless. I'd rather sign a mediocre veteran while we build up the rest of the team.
Culpepper?

Not necessarily. Early QB's are just such a gamble, and I don't think we're in much of a position to gamble too much. We need to hit on these picks, at least get above average starters out of them.

I picked him up in my money fantasy league and I keep reading more and more negative things about this guy

WTF

I agree, let him start the final 3 games and see whats going on. If he is an embarrassment, so be it. At least we have a small sense of what we got. Practice and off season is only going to teach you so much. I mean christ, the Ravens are starting Flacco.

Yeah, even though he hasn't played a lot I'm sure he's studying film the whole time. He has to be better off than a rookie.

I'd rather see him suck ass because it will get him that much closer to not sucking. You have to take your lumps at some point. Why not now when the season is already done?

It's because Rod wants to keep his job (ie win some games).

Lions' Stanton not happy with Colletto's remarks

by Tom Kowalski Friday October 31, 2008, 1:43 PM


Lions quarterback Drew Stanton tried not to make a big deal out if it but it was pretty clear that he isn't happy with the comments made Thursday by offensive coordinator Jim Colletto.
When asked about the possibility of Stanton playing soon, Colletto said "He's not ready to do that yet. I'm not going to embarrass the kid just to prove a point to somebody else.''
Later in the interview, Colletto said, "I'm not going to put a youngster in there and embarrass him in a live NFL game where those guys on the other side don't care who the quarterback is. Not until he's real comfortable with what he's doing - and he's getting closer and closer to doing that.''
Lions head coach Rod Marinelli tried to defuse the situation today, saying Colletto's comments were "a poor choice of words.''

As news spread about what Colletto said about Stanton on Thursday afternoon, Colletto called Stanton up to his office to try to explain what he meant. When asked if he accepted Colletto's explanation, Stanton said:
"I don't know. Anytime you play for somebody who says they don't want you to go out there and embarrass yourself, obviously, you're not going to feel good about it. At the same time, that's his evaluation of me. Maybe I need to change his mind or whatever. And maybe I won't get the opportunity to. I can't worry about the words or the exact definition of what he's trying to say. You never really know unless I get a chance to get out there - maybe I won't embarrass myself, who knows?
"He called me up yesterday and wanted to clarify what he meant by it. Those were his words he used and how he wanted to describe it.''
Stanton has been getting mostly scout-team reps this season but he said he's ready to play.
"I think anybody who plays in this league is ready to go out there and play,'' he said. "You prepare and try to put yourself in a position that if you're called upon to play, you're going to go out there and play and not say, hey, I'm going to embarrass myself.
"I didn't read the article but I heard what it said. That's fine, he's entitled to his opinion. If he thinks I embarrass myself when I go out there then that's what he believes. Ultimately, he's the offensive coordinator right now.''

Ultimately, he's the offensive coordinator right now.

I still can't get over drafting Gary Coleman instead of Jay Cutler or even Mat leinhart way back when.
But it's Detroit, and in my lifetime, the Loins have never had a good quarterback, Eric Hipple notwithstanding.

Lions QB Drew Stanton to undergo surgery on injured knee http://bit.ly/jYIfw

Typical Sparty.

Are you kidding me? He finally gets through 3 preseason games and shows some promise, albeit even just the promise of being able to backup to Stafford, but it's still something. Then he has yet ANOTHER injury issue.

Let's see if Bollinger can take his spot as the #3.

HEY, GUESS WHO'S STILL ON THE BENCH IN MIAMI??

STARTING FOR CARDINALS TODAY

WHO IS LOLLING NOW???

STARTING FOR CARDINALS TODAY

WHO IS LOLLING NOW???

AND HE WON

HOW DID CHAD HENNE DO?

^ LOL


And Cousins too.

I remember or kind of remember him going to Tampa and bailing out STATSford with a win. Anyone who is a true fan, and not a Maypooh suck up, could see that either of the Lions backups were better than STATTY.