A couple of weeks ago, Coach Marinelli put a team picture up in a meeting that was taken from earlier this year.  He went on to explain how he did not want to see this hanging in the Hall of Fame as the first 0-16 team in history. 

Well, history is looking us right in the face and we only have one more game to alter that.  There have been 1-15 teams before, and they become after thoughts quickly, but 0-16 would live on forever.  Heck, look at Miami now, they were 1-15 last year, got the right people in place and have won 10 games in 2008. 

This year has been extremely difficult on everyone involved, but especially Coach Marinelli, I think that is rather apparent.  I have been thoroughly impressed with the dignity and class with which Rod has carried himself in every situation.  He is a tremendous person who cares about his players, and I still believe in his philosophies and how he coaches. 

Coach Marinelli deserves more respect from reporters than he received from Rob Parker yesterday.  His failed attempt at humor after belittling Coach Marinelli and his son-in-law showed the ugliness of his profession, and the fact he believes there are no boundaries.  His job is to report the news and ask questions that could provide insight.  People could see last night on national television after Parker’s third attempt (as Rod has done all year) that he was not going to budge or throw anyone under the bus, regardless of whether that person is his son-in-law or not. 

The rollercoaster season only has one more loop to make before the ride ends, but everyone in the organization must do everything within its power to make sure we get Jason Hanson his first win ever in Green Bay. 

I want to wish everyone a happy holidays and a great new year!

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.drewstanton.com

In a rollercoaster ride of a season, things continue to get more and more interesting as the season comes closer to the end.

There is never a dull moment right now within the organization. There is so much speculation on which direction the franchise is headed, that if you allow it to, it could drive you crazy. Everyone’s future around here is in question and some serious changes need to be made in order to regain a once very strong fan base.

The fans still exist, do not get me wrong, but they cannot even watch their NFL hometown team without attending the games due to a local TV blackout.

That is a crying shame.

Now, Daunte has hurt his shoulder, my head is clear, and Dan has been cleared to play. This should make for another interesting week of practice, because Dan was our starter before he broke his thumb against Chicago. But Daunte has started ever since then. Add the fact that Drew Henson is also on the roster, so there is another direction to head.

Right now, nothing has been communicated to me as far as who is starting or a depth chart. I guess all of these issues will work themselves out as we go through the week. The thing that I am most excited about is the fact that my head is clear. I have had no problems since last Wednesday, which is a great sign that things are behind me. I was sitting in the meeting and got a little dizzy trying to watch film. Working out has not been a problem for a week and a half, but something was triggered in that meeting. Now, I have been watching film and doing everything without any issues. I have been cleared to participate fully, but we will see what that means when tomorrow comes.

Look for an update when I find out more information.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.drewstanton.com

All in all, my Thanksgiving was great considering all that was going on.

We just suffered our biggest loss on a nationally televised Thanksgiving Day game to fall to 0-12, along with sitting out due to my concussion. I could have sat around and felt sorry for myself and the situation I found myself in.

I took the alternative approach.

I decided to leave my troubles at the door when I arrived home and enjoy the company of my family, my fiancée’s family and our friends. Because after all, the true meaning of this holiday, the one in which we eat until we cannot breathe, is about being thankful for everything in our lives. I am so truly blessed and I think that is lost in the shuffle at times due to the struggles with the Lions.

So as I walked in the door, I could smell the turkey my fiancée woke up at 6 to start preparing, and the other sweet odors that were a result of my sister, mother and fiancée’s hard work that started the day before. I immediately cheered up and sat down to a feast in which I ate until I felt the button on my pants almost burst. I proceeded to relax the remainder of the weekend, taking it easy and resting my mind and body as much as possible.

Today I worked out for the first time since last Tuesday. My mind was clear and my body felt good. I was really excited about having no residual effects from the concussion. I have no idea what the plans are for me this week as far as reps are concerned, but I expressed the fact that I did not want to be limited in practice.

Like I said, today was a good day, but tomorrow could be the true test.

The big thing is to make sure I have multiple days with no problems and then I can be sure that I am recovered.

So please look for updates this week and thank you for reading, and when times may become tough, think about all the positives in your lives and how things could be worse.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.drewstanton.com

Yesterday provided a very interesting string of events. 

In a game that looked as if we were going to run away with it, suddenly we were on a slippery slope that we were not able to overcome.  After Ronde Barber took an interception to the house to make the score 35-17, the coaches told me to get loose all of a sudden.  I grabbed a ball and asked Mike Furrey to begin throwing with me.  No one came up to me and told me anything, so I went to my QB coach and asked him if I was going in.  He said, "Just get loose."  So I assumed I was not going in right then, so I went back to throwing.  Not more than five warm-up throws later, they yelled for me to go in and I went running onto the field. 

It was great to hear the cheers I received as my name was announced when I took the field. 

I loosened up as the drive went on and began to get more comfortable.  On third down we had a pass called.  I identified the coverage as I usually try to do and then felt pressure, so I tried to escape.  Understanding that was not going to work I tried to not take a sack.  Well, as I released the ball someone grabbed my legs.  I attempted to throw it, leaving my body exposed, and took a hit from a looping defensive end.  My head hit the turf hard and it was almost as if I had whiplash. 

I thought it was nothing major, perhaps it would subside quickly.  There were two offsetting fouls on the play, resulting in replaying the down.  I threw a go route to Calvin that was incomplete and still didn't feel great.  Then I see on the monitor that we got the ball back, and before I had time to think I went back out there.  I felt off, like my timing was off or delayed.  We went three plays and out, resulting in a field goal.  I went to the sidelines and tried to shake it. 

It was then that my QB coach went and got the trainer.  They did some tests and that was the end of my day.  I never lost consciousness, and my memory was fine as I knew the score and the approximate time of day.  It was like I said earlier, just a little delayed.  When I showed a lot of sensitivity to light as well, the trainers took me inside.  Head injuries are very serious, and so I went through all of the necessary tests conducted by the doctors before they allowed me to leave. 

I feel fine now, except a little bit of a sore neck, which is understandable.  The trainers and I have outlined a plan of attack for the week and I will try to work out and get my heart rate up tomorrow and see how it feels. 

So, my second action in the NFL was not as good as I would have hoped, but I definitely felt more relaxed and understood things better before the bump in the head.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.drewstanton.com

Last Sunday was as special a day for me personally as I might have ever experienced on a football field.

I was able to accomplish something only two others have done in the past 10 years by throwing a touchdown pass on my first career attempt. Any idea who the other two are?

Lions fans should know one for sure, because it happened against us in Week 1. Michael Bishop, the famous Kansas State quarterback, is the other besides Matt Ryan and myself.

Unfortunately, we still ended up losing the game, but at the time the touchdown put us in the lead. I need to first retrace my steps and explain how everything went down throughout the course of the week.

I found out on Friday that I was going to do the goal-line package for sure and that they were going to name a starter come Saturday morning. After Friday’s practice, with Daunte getting all the reps, I saw the writing on the wall but knew I had to be ready for goal-line.

I found it odd that they wanted me to go in on the most crucial part of the field, but regardless was excited for the opportunity. So after two plays and a touchdown, I was obviously hoping to get down there again so I could go back in. I ended up going back in, but not because we were on the goal-line.

It was the very beginning of the fourth quarter and we were losing by a few touchdowns. Scot Loeffler (my quarterback coach) came up and told me I was going in. It was a great feeling to be out there again, and getting a chance to operate our offense.

My first drive didn’t go as planned as I was sacked twice, on second and third down. You have to remember, I have never taken live snaps against a first-team defense in the NFL. Let me tell you, it is FAST! I know Jacksonville is known for their defense and it is as advertised.

After settling in a little bit we were able to get some things going offensively. To me, playing quarterback in the NFL is like playing a chess match for everyone to see. Because as a quarterback, we receive the play call, go up to the line of scrimmage knowing what is called. Then identify what the defense is doing, first by examining the front, to the linebackers, finishing with the defensive backfield. Then at the
snap of the ball everything changes and I need to be aware of all the things that are going on.

I absolutely loved every second I was on the field playing. I could have cared less about the score, I was going in there and trying to playing within the framework of the offense and put up points. I was thrilled to add another touchdown in the fourth quarter, but like I said the end result is what truly counts and it was not in our favor.

I took a lot away from last Sunday and I hope it is the beginning of a great career here for me in Detroit. The fans who were there were awesome and I loved the support I received.

Now I will go back and continue to work hard and make the most of my opportunities as they come. Thanks for reading and the continued support for me and the Detroit Lions.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.drewstanton.com

Let me start by saying I hope I don’t embarrass myself with this blog, hahaha. 

And then I need to reiterate the fact that sarcasm and emotion are not visible in the written word. 

The great thing about the media is they provide a connection to our fans and allow people to have a closer look at what goes on when only a few are able to watch.  The problem arises when phrases or sentences are picked apart to fit certain stories or create more tension within a storyline because they are pulled out of context. 

I think this was the case when Jim Colletto was talking to the media about me, and now I feel compelled to try and set the record straight. 

Jim called me into his office and said the media has kept hounding him about me playing, and he simply told the reporters I needed more reps after missing ALL of last season and some of the preseason.  He did, however, tell me he used the word “embarrass” twice, which he told me about.  He knew how they were going to misconstrue his words and wanted to give me a heads up. 

I was not upset with him for making the comments, just a little bewildered why he would use such a derogative term such as EMBARRASS.  But as I told the media, he decided to use those words and he said what he said.  They continued to poke and prod me for more information, but like the Daunte Cullpepper situation, I don’t know anything else. 

So I tried to keep it as vanilla as possible, so they couldn’t get those certain quotes they were dying to hear come out of my mouth. 

For the record: There is NO animosity between me and Jim on my behalf, and after being around him the past couple of days I don’t feel it coming from him, either.  I just think that at this point in time everyone is frustrated, and perhaps not using the best adjectives to describe things. 

Thanks for the continued to support of Detroit fans, I do not say this with any falseness, but these are the greatest fans in the world.  To endure what this town is going through and continue to support these teams is tremendous.

Look for some more blogs in the near future as I will expand on Daunte’s arrival and what is occurring in practice.  Thanks again and GO STATE!!!!

It is crazy that in one week's time we lost our starting quarterback for the year and traded away one of our star receivers, but I would not say I'm surprised by either move.

I understand the need to build for the future and find answers for the current predicament we find ourselves in.

The first topic that unfolded on Monday had a direct effect on me in many ways. There were ramblings of Jon going on IR (injured reserve) at the end of last week, but I thought it was just hearsay, and he would be alright in a week or two. The past season and a half I have been around Kit I have not seen a more tough individual endure so many hits and continually get up to keep fighting. He is by far the toughest football player I have been around and I have seen many tough guys in my 15 years of playing football.

I sent Jon a text to thank him for everything he had done for me, which was a lot, but did not want to overstep my boundary. I know he is upset with the situation, so I have tried to respect his privacy. He was a great leader who taught me many things over the past two seasons and has assisted me greatly in my development on and off the field. I do not know what he has in store for the future, but whatever he does I know he will be successful.

As far as the events that went down on Tuesday, I think that was a direct sign that the Lions know Calvin is their franchise receiver and they are looking to build at other positions. We are fortunate to be so deep at receiver, so losing Roy hurts but it is not devastating as Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald are great talents.

Plain and simple, Roy did not want to be here any longer and was going to demand an insane amount of money if there was a chance of him staying.

I think that trade worked out great for everyone involved. We ended up picking up essentially a first- and third-round pick, Roy got to go back to Texas, and the Cowboys got a great talent at wide receiver.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.drewstanton.com

I often say that football is what I do, but not who I am.

I believe that to a certain extent, but right now football is who I am, and losing takes its toll on everyone involved. To say it's been a struggle is the understatement of the year.

I think everyone within the organization still believes things can be turned around and the attitude is as good as could be expected, but everyone within the franchise is frustrated.

I know how this town loves its sports, and has been waiting for anything to cheer about that involves the Lions. Throughout the town there was such a strong buzz that things were headed in the right direction only about a month ago, I believe that fire can be restored with a couple wins in the near future.

Right now, the most important thing for us to do is find a way to win a football game. I think winning one begins the spark needed to get things rolling again, and nothing would set that tone like winning at a place we have not since 1997. Playing there in college I can attest to how loud it can be at the Metrodome, but it definitely cranks up a notch with the Vikings on Sundays.

The Vikings are as good of a front seven that exists in football, and they have veterans in the back end to make up for some of the inexperience back there. The young guys have tons of ability, so this week will be a huge test for our offense. The Vikings' record does not represent how good of team they truly are, so we need to play error-free to have chance.

Our quarterback situation right now is interesting, to say the least. I got to practice with the "ones" on Tuesday for the first time in my career. Dan and I split reps, but it was so much fun being a part of the actual game plan for the first time.

Right now, everything depends on how Jon is feeling, because he is obviously our starter. I know how tough Jon is and his desire to play, so I would be shocked to not see him out there some Sunday. Dan looks like his injury is not going to limit him, either, so I'm thrilled I had an opportunity to take some reps.

I felt comfortable out there today and I am feeling like my mechanics are finally at a point where I am not thinking about anything in my drop but my reads.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog for playerpress.com runs regularly at www.drewstanton.com

Matt Millen, My Thumb and Our Bye
Written By Drew Stanton
September 24, 2008

I’m sure everyone has found out by now that Matt Millen has been fired, even those who know nothing about football are aware and all are happy.

Matt Millen was nothing but a first-class man from the day I met him. They made the move last night, but waited until this morning to announce it. I went in there today to work out and watch some film, and actually found out on 95.5 FM when I was listening on the way in.

His office was all boxed up and I passed him in the hallway. I thanked him for drafting me and believing in me. I remember he would constantly stop me in the hall and ask how I was doing and numerous times told me how excited he was for me to get out onto the field. He seemed in good spirits this morning, all things considered, and I wish him nothing but the best.

So, back to why I went in today in the first place, which was to work out. Coach Loeffler likes to use film analysis to break down my drops and throwing mechanics. This really has helped me understand my drop better and actually see what is occurring and try to correct it afterwards. I have had a lot of success, as I feel I am a visual learner. We videotaped yesterday, so today we went in and broke it down frame-by-frame to see areas I need to improve. He uses four different angles of footage throughout my drop to analyze each aspect and areas that need improvement.

Right away we found something that needed to be changed, that could dramatically increase the velocity on my ball. I thought I just felt off because I could not grip the ball with all my strength, but after making this adjustment the ball was coming out today as good as it ever has. Something so small can make all the difference in the world in being more efficient in your drop.

I really like working with Scot because he presents information in a way that I can digest it and make it my own. I was really excited about correcting that and knowing that my thumb is all back to normal. We strictly filmed throws to my right, as throwing to the left is a completely different body positioning.

Of course, that is what I will be filming tomorrow. We will film all of the same throws from those different angles to my left and then break the film down the next day.

My bye week is different from the majority of the other players, who escape to nice destinations or their other homes. I plan on staying here in town and relaxing, plus getting organized around my house with all the down time. I will continue to go into the facility every day and get my thumb stronger along with running, lifting and throwing, but of course much later than usual. I am really looking forward to a Saturday filled with nothing but me sitting on the couch watching college football from sunup ’til sundown. Seeing the Spartans improve to 4-1 and hoping for a Badger victory. Then waking up Sunday, going to church and doing the same thing all over again.

After that, we are in it for the long haul, and my mind will be fresh for 13 more grueling weeks.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com

The High 5ive Foundation
Written By Drew Stanton
September 10, 2008

I am so fortunate to be in the position that I am, and I never take that for granted.

Something that is near and dear to my heart is getting involved in the community. My parents instilled in me at a young age to be thankful for what you have, and if you are in a position to enrich others' lives in any way, shape or form, it is worth doing.

This opportunity is extra special to me from the standpoint that I was part of this community years ago and now can give back. I do not look at donating my time to charities as an obligation; rather, as an opportunity to have a positive impact on as a many peoples' lives as possible.

That is why I have started my own, High 5ive... The Drew Stanton Foundation. This foundation is centered around assisting Special Olympics and Children’s Miracle Network, specifically in the state of Michigan, and also nationwide. If you noticed on the main page of my website there is a link to the site for High 5ive, and I hope to have more information up there very soon so please check it out.

Being from the community makes it easier to get the foundation started, but as I am finding out it is not very simple. There are different businesses that have already stepped forward (Lexus of Ann Arbor, Function Beverages) and will assist me in getting things going, and I have made some contacts with other great companies that I hope to build a relationship with. This is not a foundation that will just have my name stamped on it, this is near and dear to my heart and I will put all my effort into it in order for it to be a success.

My hopes are, through various fundraisers, the foundation can reach goals that are being formed right now. I know what my vision of this foundation is, now I am in the process of clearly defining it in words. I am hoping that these events are unique and will serve its ultimate purpose, which is to help raise awareness about these organizations and money to help them function more efficiently.

I ask that anyone who has an interest in getting involved please look over the website, check for updates and leave your information. Getting involved has many different meanings; it can be as easy as donating time and effort or as generous as giving money to support.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com

MSU Thoughts
Written by Drew Stanton
Sept. 6, 2008

I am writing this entry in response to a fan who asked about my thoughts on Michigan State.

I am a little hesitant to write this because I find it hard to have an accurate take on what the general public thinks is occurring versus reality. I think that my judgment at this point must lie somewhere in between.

Many times throughout the course of a football game things do not go as planned, that is obvious. But how players react to those situations, either good or bad, have a dramatic effect on not only that play, but perhaps the outcome of the game. These things are generally only realized by the people “in-house” that knew the play call or how it was actually supposed to be constructed, completely going over the head of the average fan. Having an understanding for this game, I can generally recognize some things that perhaps the average fan might not.

For instance, if a certain protection is called and the wide receiver does not run the right hot route versus a blitz, it could cause a serious problem. The quarterback is thinking the wideout is quickening up his route and tries to get the ball out. Well, if the quarterback does his job in throwing a slant, but the receiver continues on the scheduled route and it is an interception, who is at fault? To those of us watching on television, the quarterback looks like a freaking idiot, but in actuality, it was the receiver who messed it up. And that is the beauty of playing the position of quarterback.

Anyway, that is quite a tangent just to show that my opinion about my alma mater might not be anywhere close to accurate. So, let me start with the California game. (Ed. Note: California 38, Michigan State 31, Aug. 30.)

I thought Michigan State played extremely hard and never quit, which has become a trademark under coach Mark Dantonio. After being in the NFL and having the luxury of playing in preseason games, you understand it takes a while to work out the kinks, especially with guys that have never been out there before. Add the fact they are traveling all the way across America to play a good football team and I think MSU will be just fine.

College football has become so competitive that it is a handful of plays that determines the outcome of a game, and it is all predicated on who makes those plays. Unfortunately, California made a couple more plays than we did down the stretch. But, Michigan State is young at a lot of positions and will continue to only get better as time goes on.

Also, being brutally honest, the Spartans are thinner at some positions than you would hope for in the Big Ten, especially with the grueling schedule ahead. I experienced that firsthand during my time there, because injuries are bound to happen throughout the course of the season. That’s all I want to elaborate on that topic, because I do not find it good to sit back and personally evaluate college football players and isolate certain positions.

However, on a positive note, I am extremely excited about the recruiting that is going on up there. They are bringing in talent that has the ability to contribute right away, which is crucial for depth in that league. I expect them to win the games they are supposed to this year because of their leadership that has been established throughout that program. This is something that needs to become a staple of this program like it was at one point in time. That leaves dogfights for the Big Ten’s best, which in those situations anything can happen against Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State.

My biggest hope for the current seniors is that they get to experience something I never did, and that is to beat the “blue bellies” of Michigan. It has been a damn shame that the drought has been that long in East Lansing, but this year we have as good of a shot as any to go into Ann Arbor and win.

The future is bright in East Lansing, and these seniors will continue to build upon the foundation that the seniors of last year began under Coach D.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com

A Step Forward
Written by Drew Stanton
Sept. 4, 2008

Wednesday was a great day for me.

After much arguing with the trainers and team physician about the amount of time I thought I needed in the cast versus their professional, much more substantial, opinion, they finally budged.

Well, sort of.

My understanding is that the higher-ups with the Lions decided that because I was put on the active roster, I needed to be ready to play, even if I couldn't throw a football. So, the cast was cut off and reconfigured so I could hand the ball off if need be in an emergency situation for the next couple of weeks.

YEAH!

What a great feeling that was, to know that I would not have to fully put that stupid thing on. My thumb feels much better and I really have no pain. It is a little stiff, but that could be attributed to the immobilization of my thumb.

And because there is no preseason left for me to play in, I will stay in the cast/splint without throwing for two more weeks. I was out at practice Wednesday trying to get as involved as possible. Being injured makes things more difficult to get accomplished, but having a coach that is adaptive in his thinking has allowed me to continue my growth as a player.

With that being said, I really would not have been getting many reps at
this point in time anyway. The first team quarterback, Jon Kitna, is the
only one who gets reps during offensive periods. I do miss out on some "scout" team periods for the offense versus our one defense, but I will work in with Dan Orlovsky once I get back.

Before I got hurt, Dan was really cool about sharing reps. I think that could be attributed to the fact that when he was in my position he did not have QBs who were willing to share time.

We are now on the schedule that we will be on for the rest of the year.
On Wednesday I arrive at the facility around 7 a.m. and eat some breakfast. Our first QB meeting goes from 7:30 until 8:20, and then off to a team meeting for 10 minutes. Any updates or announcements are made here. We then meet with the wide receivers, running backs and tight ends until about 10:30 to either install plays or watch film, this is where we install our first and second down plays. We get a half hour to get ready for practice and have a walk-through before practice for a half hour.

Practice runs from 11:36-1:36 p.m. We get time to shower and eat some food quickly and back in the meeting room to watch the practice film.
After that we are dismissed, but most guys stay to watch extra film or lift/run.

That is basically our day in a nutshell on a Wednesday, and that is pretty much mimicked on Thursday for our third down package and Friday our red zone and coming-out package, although Friday's practice is more for polish. Saturday is just a morning walk-through and Sunday we obviously play. Monday is lifting, film and possibly a light practice. Tuesday is off, but most guys head in to do some type of work.

That is our schedule for the week all the way up until the end of January.

Thanks for all your questions and comments, feel free to continue to ask questions or bring up topics you are interested in me blogging on.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com

My Thumb Injury
Written by Drew Stanton
August 25, 2008

It is not until a person has lost something that they realize how important it truly was in their life.

Well, that is why this blog is taking me so long to write, because I will be pecking at the keyboard for the next half hour or hour trying to get this down. But honestly, having my thumb in a cast makes everyday things seem difficult. Besides the obvious of not being able to throw a football, I didn’t realize how important my right hand was. Like trying to eat dinner, get my cell phone out of my pocket, and, of course, the worst, wiping my butt. I know that is gross, but honestly, it sucks. Also, trying to take notes in meetings is next to impossible. Lucky for me, or unlucky depending on how you look at it, I will only have this cast on for about a month.

The injury came about last Thursday. It was the final period of the day and I was running the two-minute drill. It was literally going to be my last throw of the day and we had a walkthrough the following day before the game (Saturday, home to Cleveland). I dropped back to throw, as I normally do, and was waiting for my wide receiver to break in on the route he was running. I stepped up in the pocket to avoid the rush and get the ball off. Well, one of our offensive linemen (who will remain nameless) was sliding back off of one block to help another guy in protection. I didn’t feel him, because I was just getting ready to throw the ball. I released the ball and my thumb went directly into his back. I tried to stop the motion but it was too late and my thumb went straight back. I was so focused on trying to complete the pass that I didn’t sense the guy coming over. I immediately knew something was wrong. I had hit a helmet before with my hand or thumb, but never to this extent. I went directly off the field and had it X-rayed in our training room within five minutes. There was no fracture, which was positive, but I had to go see our team doctor.

It turned out that our team doctor and a hand specialist were at the same hospital doing surgery that day, so I went directly there.

The result was me in a cast for a month, or so they tell me. I had it wrapped by the hand specialist and he said I strained my radial collateral ligament, which wouldn’t have been a big deal if it wasn’t on my throwing hand. Actually, he said I was fortunate, because usually you can get a “Gamekeeper’s Thumb” (Ed. Note: An injury to the ulnar collateral ligament, aka “Skier’s Thumb”) as it is called, which could be career threatening. He told me they would reevaluate it in a couple of weeks and go from there.

So now I just have to hope I am a fast healer, because there is nothing I can really do for it. I was disappointed to not be able to play these final two preseason games, because I was getting more and more comfortable, but I will continue to get better in other ways over the course of the next few weeks. I will not be put on IR, which I am extremely happy about, and now I will just try and get healthy as soon as possible.

Thanks to all the fans who read these blogs, I love the opportunity to share stories with you that you wouldn’t hear anywhere else. If there are any questions ask away…

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com

My First NFL Snaps
Written by Drew Stanton
August 10, 2008

To say I was extremely anxious to play in my first NFL game would be a serious understatement.

Even to go through warm-ups for our exhibition game against the Giants in Detroit was something I had been looking forward to. After being sidelined for a year, the little things that you take for granted no longer seem miniscule.

My adrenaline was rising as soon as I went out to the field and I knew I was going to be taking my first snaps in the NFL that night. I knew I had to wait my turn, but I went through each snap every time as if I was the quarterback in there running the show.

I got the call from upstairs to begin warming up in the middle of the third quarter, and I just tried to collect my thoughts and relax. I had stiffened up a little bit because I was on the sidelines watching for a while. But as soon as I stepped across that white line onto the playing field and heard the crowd as I went out to the huddle, I felt like I could do anything.

To some, preseason games are viewed as meaningless tune-ups. But for me, I view it as a test and a time to let loose. All of the hours invested in practice, meetings and the film room culminate in about 15-20 opportunities to try to make a play.

Walking out onto Ford Field for my first time in an actual game and hearing the roar of that crowd is a feeling I will never forget. It brought such a level of comfort and support from the home fans. I felt honored to wear the Honolulu blue and silver and it signaled to me that I had truly come full circle.

For me, that first memory as a Detroit Lion is extra special because I grew up a Lions fan. I feel connected to these fans, because I was once a young child sitting in the Silverdome rooting for my team to win. It is moments like these that make you truly appreciate how blessed and fortunate you are to be where you are.

As the game went on I started to settle in more and more. The speed of the game is definitely faster, and I was in with the third-stringers. Ball placement for quarterbacks in the NFL is crucial and I found that out on a third down pass I threw to a back. If I put the ball out front, he gets the first down, and because I did not, we ended up short.

Also, because this game is so much faster, I have to be smarter when I take off and run. I even slid for the first time in my career, but that is something I will have to get used to in order to maintain my health.

To cap off the game with a drive resulting in the winning field goal in a 13-10 victory was truly icing on the cake. All in all, it was a day filled with some monumental highlights, and after watching the film I was very happy with the start. There are obviously so many things I need to work on after evaluating the film, but now I at least have a starting point.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com

A Typical Day at Training Camp
Written by Drew Stanton
July 28, 2008

Here’s my typical day in a nutshell at Lions’ training camp in Allen Park, Michigan:

5:30 a.m.  Wake-up call. Pick up phone and drop it ’cuz that is too early.

7:00 a.m.  Actual time my roommate, Calvin Johnson, and I get up.  I let him get up and brush his teeth first.  I’m out the door and make sure to grab my BRAINIAC drink made by Function that I drink on the drive over.  Turn on some music to get me going in the morning, right now it is Matt Nathanson’s CD.

7:15 a.m.  Arrive at facility, grab some breakfast, get taped and stretch out a little before practice.  Also, make sure to look over practice notes for the morning. 

8:10 a.m. Go out to walkthroughs and practice in full pads.  Practice is about two hours in the morning, with a couple more periods than the afternoon session.  I have been getting the second set of the second team in every drill.  Our four main drills we do every day are team run, blitz, 7-on-7 and team.

10:45 a.m. Off the practice field on my way to the weight room for a lift.  Every other day I also bike for 20 minutes just to keep up my conditioning a little bit.  After the lift I go to the training room to ice my arm and get in the cold tub for my legs. Grab a quick shower and then some lunch.  Also drink another Function beverage, but this time it’s the ALTERNATIVE ENERGY to keep me going for the rest of the day.  I have been trying to avoid naps so I can keep a consistent sleep pattern.

12:30 p.m. Rest for a little bit, check my e-mails and talk on the phone.  Then I go watch practice from the morning by myself.  Watch every single play and go over my reads and checks on my own, taking notes and making corrections.  Then I will go find a card game in the locker room during down time.  Dan Orlovsky and I finally beat Dom Raiola and Jon Kitna in Spades in a best-of-three.  They hold the belt in the locker room right now as the Spades champs.

2:30 p.m.  Meetings start.  We meet as a 7-on-7 group, which means quarterbacks, wideouts, backs and tight ends.  We will watch the morning practice and make corrections where necessary.

3:45 p.m. Released from meetings to get ready for afternoon practice.  We are in just helmets in the afternoon and practice is shortened a little bit. 

6:00 p.m. Practice is done and we ice down before we go eat dinner.  The food selection is great, and from what I hear we are one of the few teams that have this nice of a dining hall.  Special teams meets from 7:30-8:15, so we are playing cards again at this time, whether it is Spades or Tunk.  I’m trying to get in line with Roy Williams to take his belt of Tunk champion right now.

8:15 p.m. Team meeting.  Coach Marinelli addresses the team on some issue or has a guest speaker come in and talk.

8:30 p.m. Full offensive meeting.  We talk about the running plays getting installed in the morning and go over any corrections from that day.

8:45 p.m.  7-on-7 group film study and install.  We will watch the afternoon practice and then go over the install of the passing game for the next morning.

10 p.m.  I leave the facility for the hotel.  Make any necessary phone calls and then straight to the room.  No snack for me, I try not to eat so late, but sometimes I cannot pass up a brownie and some ice cold milk.  I talk with Calvin for a little bit and then lights out by 10:30.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com

Mark Dantonio and the Future of MSU Football
Written by Drew Stanton
July 21, 2008

People have been asking me my take on the new coach at Michigan State and how I think the team will do this year, so here are my thoughts.
Let me start with Mark Dantonio, because he is the man who will help determine the second part of the equation (my take on the 2008 Spartans, which will follow real soon as its own separate topic). I also need to preface this with the fact that I am not trying to offend anyone, but this is how I perceive/know things to be.
My first experience with Coach Dantonio came in high school. He told me he had just left Michigan State for Ohio State to become their new defensive coordinator. He went on to say they were already set on their quarterback (Justin Zwick), but he wished me good luck. After I told him that I was going to MSU, he wished me nothing but the best and told me I was going to a great place. That left a lasting image in my mind about how classy an individual he was. My next experience did not come until he was named head coach back at Michigan State.
I called and congratulated Coach D on getting the head job and told him if there was ever anything I could do to help the program, do not hesitate to call and ask. He was appreciative of the call, and you could tell by the tone of his voice he was proud to be there and excited about the opportunity. Since then I have had a couple encounters with Coach D and have been very impressed every time. I truly think he has the right balance needed for a coach at Michigan State. And believe me, after being there for five years, I think I know what was needed around there.
Here are the reasons why I think he will win and be successful in a short period of time:
First, he understands how to recruit Big Ten athletes. Heck, he even stole some great talent out of Detroit during his time at both Ohio State and Cincinnati.
Second, his teams play great defense. I know this because I had to face them for three years. You cannot survive a Big Ten schedule without a great defense.
Third, he has a great supporting cast of coaches. I was blown away this year by the new defensive coordinator, Pat Narduzzi, and the job his defensive staff did, not forgetting Coach Treadwell (who was at MSU my freshman year and has returned as offensive coordinator) on the offensive side of the ball. They understand the brand of football that needs to be played in order to win games in the Big Ten.
Lastly, I think Coach D has an agenda and he is sticking to it. The new facilities are amazing, which also plays a role in the grand scheme of things.
That sums up my thoughts on Coach Dantonio, but I must clear up one thing before I go any further. I am by no means bashing Coach Smith, his staff, or the players he recruited, rather shining light on the areas I see Coach Dantonio being strong in. I could have a whole separate blog, and I probably will, on how fine a man Coach Smith is. But that is what I think of Coach Dantonio and the staff he has assembled. I have been around all of them, and I feel very comfortable with the direction in which the program is headed. Look no further than the recruiting trail he is blazing right up to East Lansing.
Thanks for reading and look for my next blog real soon about the guys actually taking snaps this season.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com

Back in the Game
Written by Drew Stanton
July 18, 2008

I would be lying if I said I was not upset about tearing my ACL in the Alamo Bowl against Nebraska in 2003. After all, I hurt it on punt coverage when a guy hit me with a cheap shot in the back. The day after that game I was supposed to begin my quest to be the starting quarterback at Michigan State for the next three years. I was unable to go through Spring ball at Michigan State, and at one point thought I was not going to be able to play again.

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and just continued to work hard.
Looking back, I think that playing special teams helped get me to where I am today. By showing my team that I was willing to sacrifice myself any way possible for the team to win, I showed my commitment to the team. Playing quarterback is much more than looking pretty or having a rocket arm, it’s about getting the most out of the guys around you. I felt like that situation allowed that to happen.

There is kind of this public misconception that exists about knee injuries, and I am here to try and help you understand what I mean. People hear of a torn ACL and assume that everyone is on the same recovery plan. Well, in actuality it is quite the opposite. I had my ACL repaired, but also had work done on both my menisci. And there are limited options on how to mend menisci, unfortunately. My ACL has been doing great ever since my first surgery, but my lateral meniscus is what had been still giving me problems all the way up until last year. Knee injuries take time to recover, and time was something I did not have right after my injury in 2003. I was trying to be the starter at Michigan State and my window of opportunity was only so big, so I needed to strike while the iron was hot.

My injury this past year was not by someone running into me, or landing on it funny. It happened on a straight dropback, I went to hitch up in the pocket and heard a noise. It continued to swell over the next day and I had to do something about it. They ended up scoping me knee. In the end, they removed three pieces of scar tissue floating around and repaired my lateral meniscus again. I spent the entire season on Injured Reserve (IR), watching the Lions play.

But now I see that taking that year off was a blessing in disguise. As hard as it was not to be playing football, the time away gave my knee that much more rest and now it feels so much better.

Lots of fans want to know what players on IR do during the season. I traveled to every game and was in on all the meetings, I just couldn’t practice. I worked out with my strength coach, who helped keep my spirits up. I tried to stay involved with the offense as much as possible, but the best way to learn is to get out there and actually do it.
Once you’re on the IR, you’re kind of a forgotten man. The coaches have to worry about the guys who are playing. As a player you understand that, at the end of the day the NFL is a business. I wasn’t surprised. They have to worry about the 53 or 54 guys who can win games for them. But Coach Marinelli did go out of his way to stop me in the hall every time he saw me to see how things were going. It spoke volumes to me about the type of man he was, and I respect him a lot for that. It went a long way in making me feel included.

This season I don’t expect my knee to have any effect on my game. I went through OTAs and the knee felt really good. There was a little stiffness, but that was just the knee getting acclimated to the stress I put on it. I just needed to work through it and eventually it loosened up.
That’s it for now. Check back for regular updates, I look forward to reading your questions and comments.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com

The QB Competition
Written by Drew Stanton
July 16, 2008

Jon Kitna was the starter for the Lions last year and he has been instrumental in my growth. He is constantly teaching me things and he goes out of his way to offer me information. He’s been playing at this level for 14 years now, and that doesn’t just happen by mistake. I’m very fortunate to have him here because you hear horror stories about veterans who are worried about their job security, they sometimes tell the younger guys the wrong things to do or make the situation very uncomfortable for rookies.

There are three quarterbacks going to training camp with the Lions and I’m trying to see where I fit in. Through OTAs I took primarily third-team reps; I was kind of at a disadvantage after sitting out last year with my injury (Ed. Note: He was on IR with a knee injury) because I didn’t get to run the offense. I have a much better grasp now and I feel confident going into training camp.

Now it’s just a matter of performing in the preseason, trying to be prepared when the dust settles to play some football, regardless of where I am on the depth chart. As a backup you always have to be prepared because you’re one snap from going in there. I have to be prepared as well as I can because I don’t know what to expect after missing my rookie season. I try to focus on things I have control over, and my main focus is to be ready when opportunities present themselves.

Going back to working environments like I was talking about earlier, I feel very fortunate to have Jon and Dan helping me. We all do stuff together that is non-football related. Most of the time it is golf, and I get my butt kicked, but it’s all in good fun. At this level I think there is that respect level that exists, especially at the quarterback position. It is not as if you are sitting there hoping guys throw an interception so they look bad, because the ultimate goal is for the team to be a success. I’m competing against myself out there, I know what I am capable of and I just need to go out and produce on the field.

There’s a real comfortable feeling on this team, I like the direction we’re headed under coach Rod Marinelli. He’s awesome, everything is very blunt with the team and he’s so passionate about the way to play the game. From what I have seen, it seems like we have the right mixture here in our locker room. I’ve only been in the league one year, but it seems hard to find the right chemistry. Coach Marinelli is able to motivate the veterans all the way down the line to the rookies. His speeches are meticulous and he is so prepared for every meeting.

I learned as much as I could last year on the sidelines, now I feel like the best way to learn is to go out and do it, especially as a young guy in this league. I know I’m going to make some mistakes at this position, that stuff happens. I just need to make sure to not repeat those mistakes. With Coach Martz’s unique system gone, our new offense has changed. Coach Martz was big on not letting the defense dictate what the offense was going to do.

With the talent level so high on defense, not checking is a hard way to operate week-in and week-out in the NFL. Now we are trying to put ourselves in the best situation. You have to run away from certain looks, get out of certain plays, depending on the coverage. For instance, a very vanilla example is trying to run the ball against cover two and throw it versus cover three or anytime they try to load guys up in the box (near the line of scrimmage). I think you will see a lot of that out of us this year, especially when you have weapons like Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams on the outside.
Having those guys to throw to is not too bad at all.

I think the big thing for me this year will just be getting acclimated to being in the NFL, on the field and off. There’s no school to go to, no homework, all the things you have to do in college. You have the freedom to sit down and watch as much film as you want to, grab a guy and go out on the field anytime to run some plays. I’m going to train as if I’m going to be the starter every week, because you’re always one or two snaps from being in the game. As a backup you have to prepare like you are the guy, like I did when I was a freshman at Michigan State.

As a quarterback, the media really puts you under a microscope. It’s been that way all my life, playing at Michigan State, and even in high school because it was one of the best football programs in Michigan. During OTAs there were reports in the newspapers that I had thrown some floaters. I’ve never met a person that’s thrown a spiral every single time, and from what I know about football they don’t keep track of how many spirals you throw, they keep track of completions.
I don’t read the newspapers because I already know what happened in practice. I don’t need to see the media’s perception. They don’t know if the guy was getting blitzed, if he was checking off. Unless you’re the one out there playing, it’s hard to say exactly what was going on and what was going through their head.
That’s it for now. Check back for regular updates, I look forward to reading your questions and comments.

Drew Stanton is a quarterback with the Detroit Lions. His blog runs regularly at www.playerpress.com