The Arizona Cardinals were seemingly one of the places where Tim Tebow could try to resurrect his career, instead head coach Bruce Arians is ready to go with newly signed Drew Stanton, who he coached as Andrew Luck's backup in Indianapolis last season.
According to ESPN.com, Arians said at the owners meetings on Wednesday that while he has not officially named a starter, Stanton is the likely choice. Stanton was signed last week after the release of Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals appear ready to go with him over drafting Geno Smith or trading for someone like Matt Flynn or Tim Tebow.
The Cardinals were one the worst offensive teams last season with play from Kolb, John Skelton and Ryan Lindley, ranking in the bottom of the league in scoring and passing yards per game. Arians said that he was confident in Stanton and even though he has not picked a starter, he will do so early on, not like Ken Whisenhunt, who kept the question open throughout the preseason and the Cardinals appeared to suffer for it.
"I have all the confidence in the world with him being our starter," Arians said. "I'm not a two-quarterback guy. When everything settles down and the roster is complete for spring, we'll look at the situation and if we feel we can name a starter, we will name a starter. We need leadership on that side of the football and in our whole locker room."
The Cardinals have the number seven pick in the draft and could be in position to take Geno Smith if the Raiders, Jaguars and Eagles pass on him. Stanton has not played in two seasons, but he showed skills and veteran leadership while backing up Luck on the Colts under Arians last season, which is one reason why he brought him to Arizona.
"I think all speculators look at need and not the draft board," Arians said. "If you draft for need, you're in trouble. Just because you need one you don't take one. If there's someone who fits the spot in the draft that you put him at, then you take one."
Whisenhunt seemed to enjoy the quarterback competitions, while Arians does not want to do that. Kolb was released by the team after a disappointing season and he never lived up to his six-year, $63.5 million, going just 9-12 as a starter. He passed for just 1,169 yards and eight touchdowns while the team ranked 28th in passing.
The Cardinals will likely use their pick on an offensive lineman and Stanton now is the man after a year with the Colts. His last game was in 2010 with the Lions and after signing with the Jets in 2012 he was asked to be traded when the team acquired Tebow. Now Stanton has a starting job and Tebow is stuck with the Jets.
Stanton has not thrown a pass in two seasons and he went 2-2 with the Lions as a starter and at 28-years-old he is not over the hill yet. The team went 5-11 last season and nearly any quarterback would be better than the trio the Cardinals used.
Tebow now has limited options and the Jets are likely to cut him if they can't find a trade partner. The Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns could be options as both teams would like another player to come in and compete, but it depends on what the Jets will ask for him.
Tebow does not look valuable now, but he can give a player a push in a quarterback competition and although he was barely used, he made the most of his time last season, gaining 102 rushing yards and completing six of eight passes for 39 yards.