Cards’ backup QB Drew Stanton opens up about debacle with New York Jets

Aug 14, 2013, 12:03 AM | Updated: 6:10 pm
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LISTEN: Drew Stanton, Cardinals QB

Lost amidst the hoopla that comes with every mention of the names Rex Ryan, Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez was the Drew Stanton-gets-snubbed-by-Mike-Tannenbaum-and-the-New-York-Jets storyline last season.

With help from the offended party himself, who joined Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and Gambo Show Tuesday, here’s how the story goes.

“You know, it was a very interesting turn of events,” Stanton explained.

Indeed, it was. And it began with Stanton, then, a free agent quarterback who had spent his career up until that point as QB-2 for the Detroit Lions, paying a visit to The Meadowlands in New York.

“I had some other visits set up and was looking forward to taking those visits as well,” recalled Stanton, “but as soon as I got (to New York), I felt really good about the entire situation, and I sat in Mike Tanenbaum’s office and he told me that if I was to sign on the dotted line that they would not do anything else at the quarterback position.

“Mark Sanchez would be the starter, I would be the backup with a chance to compete to start, and then they had Greg McIlroy, who they liked as a young guy that was intelligent that could get them through a football game and they wanted to see how he progressed.”

Sounds like a good deal for a guy who was stuck behind Matthew Stafford for years.

“So I signed,” said Stanton.

But Mike Tannenbaum, the former general manager of the Jets, did not keep his word.

Stanton continues the recount of the saga: “Everything would lead you to believe that that was what was going to happen and then a week later, I started hearing rumors.”

The Jets’ lust for TebowMania in New York got the best of the GM and Tim Tebow joined the team as Mark Sanchez’s backup and Rex Ryan’s wildcat novelty.

“The trade went down with Tebow and then it was back and forth, back and forth,” told Stanton. “And I’m trying to call people in New York.

“I’m trying to get a hold of Tanenbaum. I’m trying to get a hold of everybody else and nobody’s answering my calls. And I’m starting to get aggravated.”

With no word from the Jets, who spurned Stanton so bad that they failed to even return his calls, the quarterback and his representation had to stand pat until the trade for Tebow, which was rumored to have fall-through potential, was complete.

“Once we saw that the trade was going to go through, my agent gave them a list of names of teams we were interested in,” said Stanton, of his move to get off the team that lied to him.

“If you saw some of the stuff that went on with Tebow in Denver, you know, with Kyle Orton being the starting quarterback, and everybody started chanting for him, you know, it becomes a popularity contest at that point and I didn’t want anything to do with that,” he said.

But it wasn’t just Tebow that Stanton wanted no part of. The lack of togetherness in the Jets’ organization was alarming. The team told him they believed in him, saw one thing, but seemed to believe another.

“All of the Jets organization (said) they really wanted to bring me in,” Stanton said. “I was their first priority at quarterback, and they wanted someone they could rely on.”

“They said they had done a bunch of homework on me and they wanted somebody who could come in and compete for the starting job to push Mark Sanchez, but also if something went south where I lost to Mark, I’d still be there and could contribute to his development and try to help him out and aid him.”

All for naught.

The quarterback was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, where he played behind Andrew Luck and under current Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, with whom he forged and excellent relationship.

“I came here because of Coach Arians,” Stanton said.

Of course, as luck would have it, the Cardinals signed quarterback Carson Palmer weeks after Stanton’s arrival.

But that’s another story.

Running back Stepfan Taylor takes a hit from defensive lineman David Carter during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Kerry Taylor tries to make a grab during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Drew Stanton receives a snap during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Drew Stanton throws a pass to tight end D.C. Jefferson during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Cardinals specialists talk during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Andre Roberts and quarterback Carson Palmer chat during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Linebacker Alex Okafor rushes the passer during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Members of the offensive line wait during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Tight end Rob Housler makes a catch over cornerback Jerraud Powers during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Larry Fitzgerald goes up in traffic during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Ryan Lindley surveys the field during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Carson Palmer and running back Rashard Mendenhall wait during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Tight end Rob Housler makes a catch during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Carson Palmer throws a pass to receiver Jaron Brown during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Cornerback Patrick Peterson lines up during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Tight end Rob Housler turns and runs with the ball during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Charles Hawkins makes a catch in the corner of the end zone during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Ryan Lindley lets a throw go while defensive end John Abraham watches during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Larry Fitzgerald watches during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Tight end Alex Gottlieb makes a catch during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Larry Fitzgerald reaches for the pylon during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Lineman Joe Caprioglio battles with defensive tackle Padric Scott during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Offensive lineman Deveric Gallington runs through a drill during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Tight end Rob Housler makes a touchdown catch during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Playing on offense, Patrick Peterson runs with the ball during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Dan Buckner makes a catch during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Larry Fitzgerald tries for the one-hand catch during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Lineman Daryn Colledge is in between drills during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Jay Feely kicks a field goal during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Head coach Bruce Arians is in the background while receiver Larry Fitzgerald is in the foreground during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Nicholas Edwards makes a catch during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Defensive lineman Darnell Dockett and guard Jonathan Cooper battle during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Linemen Daryn Colledge, Eric Winston and Joe Caprioglio run through a drill during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Receiver Larry Fitzgerald dives into the end zone during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Guard Daryn Colledge leads the way for Patrick Peterson during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Quarterback Carson Palmer and head coach Bruce Arians share a conversation during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports) Defensive end John Abraham prepares for the snap during Arizona Cardinals training camp Monday, Aug. 12, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. (Adam Green/Arizona Sports)

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