Drew Stanton

At 39 years old, Drew Stanton has this physical status:

Drew Emeric Stanton (born May 7, 1984) is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. (NFL)

In the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions.

At Michigan State, he played college football.

Stanton has also played for the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Arizona Cardinals.

Early years

Stanton was born in Okemos, Michigan, a large suburb of Lansing, which borders the Michigan State University campus. His family moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon, a suburb south of Portland, where he played peewee-football and then continued to play until his sophomore year at Lake Oswego High School. The Stanton family eventually moved to Farmington Hills, Michigan, northwest of Detroit, where he graduated from Harrison High School.

Rivals.com rated Stanton as a four-star prospect coming out of high school, and he was also ranked as the #6 Pro-Style Quarterback in the United States.

Personal life

Stanton is the son of Gaylord and Christine Stanton. He is dedicated to charity work and created the High 5ive Foundation in honor of the Special Olympics and the Children's Miracle Network, two of his two most favored charities among others. The name came from the number (5) on his Lions jersey, and he says he aims to have five major fundraisers per year. "This is really a passion for me, and I try to get as much as possible" into the community, he says. He is a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the national fraternity at Michigan State University. Mike McCartney is his handler. Kristin Schrock was married on June 27, 2009. He earned a degree in kinesiology. He is a Christian. Stanton is also known around the NFL for his extravagant touchdown dances.

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College career

Stanton played for Michigan State from 2002 to 2003 before being named the second quarterback behind Jeff Smoker in 2003. He appeared on special teams in 2003 and made several impressive open field tackles. He scored his first collegiate touchdown against Wisconsin on November 15, a 13-yard rush. However, Stanton sustained his knee injury in the Alamo Bowl against Nebraska while defending a punt and having reconstructive surgery.

Stanton, the start of the season in 2004, has been lauded nationally and internationally for his efforts on the track, and he was also named an Academic All-American. He threw for 172 yards and two interceptions against Indiana on September 25, but rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He had his first collegiate receiving touchdown on an 18-yard reception against Illinois on October 9, and had his first collegiate touchdown on October 9. He threw for 308 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and two interceptions against Minnesota on October 16. He finished with 1,601 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and six interceptions in the 2004 season.

Stanton played as the starting quarterback in the 2005 season. He had 327 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, one intercept, 48 running yards, and one touchdown on September 17, against Notre Dame. He had 259 passing yards and five touchdowns in the next game against Illinois. He finished with 3,077 passing yards, 22 interceptions, 338 passing yards, and four touchdowns in the 2005 season.

Stanton had been rumored as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate going into his senior season (2006), and he had visited New York twice for the presentation. According to ESPN, he was ranked as the top quarterback in the 2007 NFL Draft. Stanton sustained at least one significant injury in his high school and early college years in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Stanton led the Spartans to the Spartans to the Spartans' highest point margin victory in NCAA Division I-A history in 2006. He accounted for 331 total yards and three touchdowns against conference opponents Northwestern, coming back from a 35-point deficit in the third quarter. He began his prime time with an 18-yard touchdown pass and then went for a 12-yard field record. Stanton made six straight passes in the fourth quarter before crashing the game-tying march with a 9-yard foul with 3:43 left. He later supervised the drive that culminated in a game-winning field goal to win by 41–38.

Stanton completed 64% of his passes for 6,524 yards with 42 touchdowns and 28 interceptions, while also rushing for another 1,512 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Stanton appeared in the 2007 Senior Bowl, where he was a quarterback who helped the North win. He was named the North's Offensive MVP.

Professional career

Stanton was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round with the 43rd overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Since recovering knee surgery, he was put on a season-ending injured reserve during training camp on August 3, 2007.

Stanton strained his thumb on his throwing arm during preseason, holding him out the remainder of the preseason. Jon Kitna was drafted on injured reserve and advanced to second string quarterback, behind Dan Orlovsky.

Stanton made his NFL debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars (entering in honor of Daunte Culpepper, who was signed by the Lions just days before Orlovsky sustained a thumb injury). On his first career passing attempt, he threw a one-yard touchdown on his first attempt at passing and finished the game with 6 of 8 pass attempts for 94 yards.

Stanton replaced him as the third string quarterback behind 2009 NFL Draft first overall pick Matthew Stafford and former Culpepper. Stafford was forced to leave Culpepper, who was also injured during the game, with Stafford out for Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers. In a 0–26 loss to the Lions, he threw two interceptions. In Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, Stanton appeared in relief of Culpepper. He was 10/19 passing with one interception, but with Arizona winning 24–31, he scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown on a draw play. Stanton made his first appearance against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. He finished with 130 passing yards and three interceptions in the 20–6 loss.

Stanton saw action again during the 2010 season as Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill went down with injuries. He came in as a relief for Hill against the New York Giants and went 19/34 passing for 222 yards, with a touchdown and an intercept. In Week 13, he made his second appearance against the Bears, going 16/24 passing for 178 yards and one touchdown. He started the next game against the Green Bay Packers and led the Detroit Lions to victory with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Will Heller. Drew was also instrumental in the Lions' first road win in over three years, leading to a 23–20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Stanton was signed by the New York Jets on March 16, 2012. Tim Tebow, a Denver Broncos aquired, has been requesting a release or trade after the Jets acquired him on March 21, whether it was a free or trade.

Stanton was traded by the Jets to the Indianapolis Colts for a seventh round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft on March 23, 2012. Andrew Luck, the Indianapolis Colts' first overall draft pick, over him for the starting position.

Stanton agreed to a three-year, $8.2 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals on March 13, 2013. Carson Palmer, the Cardinals' backup quarterback, was traded to him by the Oakland Raiders on April 2, 2013. Stanton was the starter against the New York Giants on Week 2 following Palmer's shoulder injury in Week 1 of 2014. On October 5, 2014, he sustained a concussion after being struck by Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller. After Carson Palmer suffered from a season-ending injury in Week 10, Stanton stepped in and led the Cardinals to their 8th and 9th victories of the season. He had an MCL sprain and then a secondary infection in December, and he was out for the remainder of the season. Drew Stanton was brought into the 2nd half of the game against the Seattle Seahawks in 2015 Week 17 after Head Coach Bruce Arians pulled Palmer due to the Cardinals' inability and second seed in the NFC.

Stanton signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals worth $6.5 million, with 4.5 million guaranteed, which extends to 2018. Stanton was primarily responsible for Palmer's back-up in 2016. Palmer came in relief of Palmer after he sustained a concussion against the Rams in Week 4, completing 4 of 11 passes for 37 yards and two interceptions in a 13-17 loss. In a 33-21 victory over the 49ers, he made his only start of the season by passing 11 of 28 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

Palmer sustained a broken arm during a game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7, making Stanton the new starter. He then started the team's next two games. Due to a strained right knee, he did not participate in the team's Week 11 game. However, he was also in force as the back-up to Blaine Gabbert. After struggling with Gabbert, Stanton was renamed the starter for Week 16. Stanton played in the final two games of the regular season and led the team to victories over the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.

Stanton signed a two-year deal with the Cleveland Browns on March 25, 2018.

Stanton was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on September 16, 2019.

Stanton signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad on December 24, 2020, after spending the majority of the season as a free agent. On February 6, 2021, he was activated to the active roster for Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs, and after the game, he reverted to the practice squad. Since the season ended on February 16, 2021, the team's practice squad contract came to an end.

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