Drew Stanton Deserves an Opportunity with Detroit Lions

Taking advantage of the NFL Network's broadcast of every game this preseason, I have watched a lot of meaningless football.

Though I do not closely follow the Lions—I am a Browns Fan—I have watched all of the Lions preseason games and have been extremely impressed with their third-year quarterback, Drew Stanton.

I first heard about Stanton during his very successful college career at Michigan State. He completed 64 percent of his passes and threw for 6,524 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. He also rushed for another 1,512 yards and 15 touchdowns.

He was then picked by the Lions in the second round with the 43rd pick overall in the 2007 draft.

When I heard the Lions had selected Stanton, I thought it was a great pick. He was described in SI.Com's 2007 draft preview as "a smart, hard-working passer with an NFL arm. Patient in the pocket, poised under pressure and buys time for receivers. Throws with an over-the-top delivery, accurate and nicely places the pass. Does not force the ball into coverage."

The other factor I noticed was that Stanton is a Michigan native, played his college ball in Michigan, and had all the potential to become a hometown hero. I saw the way that my hometown of Cleveland rallied around Bernie Kosar and embraces him as a native son to this day.

Stanton's career has been slowed due to numerous injuries, but those injuries have also blessed the young quarterback with an opportunity to slowly adjust to the professional game and get his feet wet in the NFL.

It also clearly lowered any expectations that could have been placed on him, and allowed him to focus on improving at his own pace.

Stanton's performance this preseason cannot be overlooked. Against Atlanta, he was 8-of-13 with 114 yards and a touchdown and had an impressive 18-yard run in the fourth quarter which set up the game-winning field goal.

Against Cleveland, he was 5-of-12 with 66 yards and one touchdown—the only touchdown the Lions scored in the game.

Against Indianapolis, Stanton was 4-of-6 with 56 yards and a touchdown, and he essentially led the Lions to a win for the second time this preseason.

Yes, I am aware that Stanton was playing in meaningless games against meaningless players who might not even be in the league when rosters are trimmed down. However, he has displayed all of the skills needed to be an effective quarterback in the NFL. He has read defenses well, checked down to secondary targets, thrown the ball with power and precision, and has really earned a closer look.

I understand that many obviously feel their is too much talent between Culpepper and Matthew Stafford to look deeper in the Lions quarterback competition. However, what I have seen this preseason leads me to believe that Stanton deserves a chance in Detroit.

What a story it could be if the Michigan native could lead the winless Lions to any measure of success this season. If not, then he absorbs hits that would have been directed at Stafford.

But if Stanton doesn't get that chance with the Lions, he certainly has the ability to become a solid quarterback somewhere else in the NFL.