NFL Rumors: Drew Stanton Still Bitter With New York Jets Following False Assurances?

Drew Stanton signed with the New York Jets for one reason. He said he was told that he would get an opportunity to start if Mark Sanchez struggled. Knowing that was a distinct possibility, Stanton chose to sign with the Jets instead of countless other teams to serve as the team’s back up quarterback entering the offseason workouts and training camp.

Five days later, the Jets traded for Tim Tebow and that changed everything. Stanton knew that Tebow was not brought in just to sit on the bench, and he immediately requested a trade. That wish was granted, although New York traded him to the Indianapolis Colts. After seeing how well No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck has played, Stanton has absolutely no chance of seeing the field any time soon, barring an unforeseen injury.

He is still not happy with how things played out in New York.

“Had Mark [Sanchez] struggled, they said I’d have a chance to play,” Stanton told Newsday. “So there was no better opportunity than that, and I was excited about it.”

Stanton did not resign with the Detroit Lions because he was behind Matthew Stafford. Only an injury was going to get him playing time there as well. That is why he chose to sign with the Jets, and that was his decision.

It turns out now, due to the injury risk still there for Stafford, he may have still had a better shot to play had he just re-signed with the Lions in the first place.

In the end, it is an unfair business. Players know that going into it in the first place. Yes, it is a sport and a game, but it is a business above all. Whether or not the Jets guaranteed Stanton he would have a chance to start if Sanchez struggled is unknown. Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan is denying any false assurances were ever given to Stanton.

Either way, it did not seem to work out for anyone involved in the situation.

Stanton is behind Luck. Sanchez is struggling, but Tebow is not playing. The Colts are doing well with Luck, meaning Stanton will not see the field. The Jets have no quarterback who is truly capable of leading them downfield.

Maybe everyone would have been better off if the Jets never traded for Tebow. Maybe he is to blame for all of this.

Well, he and Woody Johnson and Mike Tannenbaum. Those are the people with whom Stanton should be the angriest.