Arizona Cardinals: Once again, Stanton not answer
By Scott Allen
Arizona Cardinals backup quarterback Drew Stanton once again wants his shot at starting after Carson Palmer leaves
Arizona Cardinals fans should be considered spoiled. Without backup quarterback Drew Stanton, who knows where the team would have finished in 2014.
For that matter, how would have last season’s game at the San Francisco 49ers gone without Stanton to backup starting quarterback Carson Palmer? Palmer was coming off a concussion protocol and because of a short week, Stanton had to play.
The numbers weren’t fantastic. In fact, some of the passes looked ugly. Stanton had looked the same way four days earlier in late relief of Palmer against the Los Angeles Rams.
The fact is Stanton is a valuable commodity at backup but he has done little to show he can take over the reins full time. Stanton is not a franchise quarterback.
The Cardinals have at least publicly said that Stanton will be in the mix. They do owe him that but Stanton just doesn’t appear to be the guy the Cardinals need as they move into a post- Palmer era in one or two years.
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Palmer is playing this year but after that there are no guarantees. Also, the Cardinals brought in Blaine Gabbert and seemed poised to give him a shot at it as well. Neither option sounds too appetizing.
The Cardinals will likely look for a young quarterback to lead them in the future but for now Stanton will remain in the mix. He is serviceable but just not a full-time starter.
No question, if Palmer goes down again, it is Stanton’s ship until they can find someone better. Where Gabbert falls into place remains to be seen?
The Cardinals could also go out and try to land another veteran. That too could be a more viable option. That would not preclude the Cardinals from keeping Stanton but he would remain as a backup here. That is the best place for him to continue his NFL career.