Drew Stanton’s humorous approach a hit with teammates

TEMPE, Ariz. — Drew Stanton is mildly concerned that his laid-back, dry sense of humor gets lost when he steps into the huddle.

“Some people can misconstrue the laid back sense of humor as a smart-ass,” the Cardinals quarterback quipped.

It’s not limited to “some” people.

“Drew’s the biggest smart-ass I know,” left tackle DJ Humphries said, laughing. “That’s his personality. That’s who he is. He’s not just being a smart-ass, that’s actually who he is.”

Stanton’s ability to fill in as a capable backup has been well chronicled. He’s 7-3 as a starter in Arizona, he knows the offense implicitly from having played under coach Bruce Arians in two organizations, and as a consequence, he has the complete trust of his coach.

“If I have a question, I’ll ask Drew because he knows what we all do,” Arians said.

Stanton knows he is not Carson Palmer. At this point in his career, he has likely realized that he will never be a full-time starter in the NFL, but when called upon, he has learned to play to his strengths.

Maybe that means managing a game. Maybe that means using his better mobility to extend plays outside the pocket, but Stanton also possesses the gift of making people around him laugh, whether it’s reporters, coaches or his teammates. He’s comfortable in his role as a “career backup,” secure enough to poke fun at himself, and so personable that he connects easily with people.

As his NFL years have piled up, he has honed that asset as much as any other gift in an effort to relax his teammates.

“We make it hard enough on ourselves,” Stanton said. “We take everything so serious, and it should be serious. It’s very important, but at the same time we need to go out and have fun and you only do that by being able to relax and play at your potential.

“Sometimes, I just go out there and do what I need to do and be infectious with that in some way, shape or form.”

Humphries insists it works.

“I’m always super relaxed when Drew is in the huddle,” he said. “Carson is super calm and Drew’s a smart-ass so he makes everything real bubbly in the huddle.

“Between Drew and [center] AQ [Shipley] going back and forth in the huddle on the center-quarterback stage, it’s pretty hilarious. Two of the biggest smart-asses I’ve ever seen in my life: AQ and Drew Stanton. Together, it’s something else.”

Stanton said earlier this season that part of his role was to serve as a calming presence in the event he had to play. He admitted, it’s a skill he didn’t always utilize.

“I learned that a few years in,” he said. “I wish I would have known that earlier in my career because I was worried about all the extra curricular, everything else, what people were saying, what people were doing and it started taking away from my ability to play this game.

“Once I matured a little bit and started focusing really on what I have control over and really building upon that and having answers… it has allowed me to relax and play to my capability and learn and grow.”

As time has passed, Stanton’s wisecracks have sharpened along with his understanding of Arians’ offense.

“They’ve gotten better,” he said. “There’s a time and place for all of that, but it’s all in jest. It’s all lighthearted.”

Stanton is in the final year of his contract. If this is his last year as Cardinal, he’ll be missed. Arians will miss his knowledge. Teammates will miss his humor and reporters will miss those sold gold quotes for which we sometimes forget to thank him.

“Ha, ha!” Stanton said when one reporter did thank him. “You’re welcome.”

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