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February 10, 2012

Stanton bides time as he awaits free agency

BY DENNIS CHASE dchase@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Fri Feb 10, 2012, 07:24 AM EST

TRAVERSE CITY — With two unrestricted reserve quarterbacks, Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew has a decision to make.

Does he re-sign Shaun Hill or Drew Stanton to back-up emerging star Matthew Stafford?

Hill and Stanton are unrestricted free agents and will hit the open market March 13, unless the Lions ink one prior to that.

"I'll have the opportunity to go someplace else, but if everything works out I'd love to return to Detroit," Stanton said Thursday afternoon before an autograph session at the Special Olympics State Winter Games at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

Hill has served as Stafford's top back-up the past two seasons. He played in 11 games two years ago when Stafford was injured. Stanton saw action in six games that season because Hill got hurt as well.

Last year, Stafford played the entire 16-game regular season, limiting Hill to two brief appearances. Stanton did not play.

"Obviously, you put a lot of work in and you want to play, but the same time you don't want to see somebody get hurt," Stanton said. "Matthew had success this year. He threw for more than 5,000 yards. He accomplished something that's only been done five times. I'm really happy for him. His career is starting to take off. If I could be the back-up here, that would be a situation I would look forward to."

That decision, though, starts with Mayhew.

Stanton said "not really" when asked if he has had contact with the Lions regarding a contract. He expects his future to become clearer in a month.

"Once March hits, it (talks) will be more in-depth and I'll have a better idea of what's going on," he said. "They have to make a decision what they want to do. We'll see come March."

Stanton, who played at Farmington Harrison and Michigan State, said he would like to stay with the Lions, all things considered.

"Yeah, definitely," he said. "I love the familiarity. The team is on the upswing. I enjoy going to work every day and working with Matthew and everybody else on the offense."

He said he has a good working relationship with Stafford and Hill.

"All three of us get along well," he said. "Having that cohesion allows for the success we've had. Everybody's pulling in the same direction. We're like another set of eyes for Matthew. We're trying to do everything we can to help him out and aid him in what he's trying to do."

The Lions drafted Stanton in the second round in 2007. He's watched the Lions transform from a winless 0-16 team in 2008 to a 10-6 playoff team in 2011.

"That was huge," he said of the team's progress this past season. "I think the foundation has been laid. Now it's about building off that platform and making it a consistent thing. We're trying to be in the playoffs every year. Once you get in, anything can happen. You can see that with Green Bay last year and the Giants this year. They got healthy at the right time, and everything came together. It's usually the hottest team, not always the best team, that wins in the end."