INDIANAPOLIS —
There’s a reason why the National Football League is often referred to as the “Not For Long” league. Just ask Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Drew Stanton.
A part-time starter for most of his five seasons (2007-11) with the Detroit Lions, Stanton thought he had hit the jackpot — both figuratively and literally — when he signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the New York Jets last March.
Stanton figured he had made the right move for him and his family. After turning down more lucrative offers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, as well as a chance to remain with the Lions, he would be the primary backup to New York starting quarterback Mark Sanchez.
The former Michigan State signal caller would be in position to replace Sanchez if needed. But the situation changed quickly.
Within a week of joining the Jets, however, the team added Tim Tebow to the mix in a trade with the Denver Broncos. Now it appeared as if Stanton would be the odd man out. It didn’t take long for him to see the handwriting on the wall. And he wanted out just as quickly as he wanted in.
“As soon as free agency started, I got a call from the quarterback coach, [general manager Mike Tannenbaum] and [coach Rex Ryan]. They all wanted me to take a visit. I went on a visit and met everybody in the organization. I felt really comfortable about the entire situation and the way they laid it out to me. Flew home the next day and felt really good about the situation that I was going to embark on. Started looking at houses and started doing all of that stuff,” he recalled this week.
“I thought I was going there. I was told that if I signed, Mark was the starter, I was the backup and [Greg] McElroy was the third [quarterback]. I just took them on their word. And then talks started happening about Tebow coming in and doing that. Once it was became finalized and that [Tebow] was going to run Wildcat [offense] and he’s going to be doing special teams stuff.”
Stanton also knew what the fan reaction would be if Sanchez were to struggle.
“If things start going south and it turns into a popularity contest, I don’t know anybody that is going to beat Tim Tebow in a popularity contest. He dominates ESPN as it is,” he voiced. “So I talked to [the Jets] and they said ‘If we can just kind of keep this quiet, we’re going to find the best possible situation for you.
“Your agent has sent over a list of teams and Indianapolis happened to be on the top of that list. I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason. And I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this organization and call all these guys my teammates.”
Seven days after agreeing to a deal with New York, Stanton arrived in Indianapolis. And he couldn’t be happier about how things eventually worked out. The Colts had traded a sixth-round pick from last spring’s draft to New York in exchange for the quarterback and a seventh-round pick in the same draft.
“It was a business decision [by the Jets to trade for Tebow]. To [New York team officials] upholding what they said, they helped me find a situation that I could still pursue what I wanted to and establish myself as a backup in this league. It’s just a matter of moving on,” Stanton said.
“I got a chance to come in here and got all these reps in the spring. Now I have a quarterback room that is really a strong room where everybody kind of settled into their roles. We can go out there and prepare [rookie quarterback] Andrew [Luck] throughout the week and allow him to put his best foot forward on Sundays.”
Colts vs. Jets
The game plan
Keep up the good that the Indianapolis Colts started in the second half of the Green Bay game. Indianapolis played with an up-tempo style on offense and got their pass rush untracked defensively over the final two quarters in the win over the Packers.
The Colts figure to stay up-tempo on offense, using a no-huddle attack for approximately 80 percent of last week's game. Those numbers will most likely same about the same, although Indianapolis would also like to pick up where the team left off in the running game. The key will be pass protection against a pretty aggressive New York defensive unit.
Defensively, the Colts have five sacks in the win over Green bay, with four of those occurring in the second-half rally. Indianapolis wants to keep the pressure on this week, especially since the Jets' quarterbacking situation is tenuous at best.
Key matchups
Colts QB Andrew Luck vs. Jets pass defense — Luck has been on a roll of late. He still hasn't played like a rookie, although the Jets defense is expected to throw up quite a few roadblocks this week. Indianapolis is averaging 286.3 yards per game passing. New York is allowing 199.8 yards per game. Both units are ranked sixth in the league in their respective categories.
Jets QB Mark Sanchez vs. Colts DE Cory Redding — Sanchez has been inconsistent so far this season. But he is good enough to break out of his struggles at any time. He hurt the Colts the last time these two teams met with New York posting a 17-16 win in an AFC Wildcard playoff game on Jan. 8, 2011.
Colts WR Reggie Wayne vs. Jets CB Antonio Cromartie. A classic matchup. Wayne is off to his best start of his career, catching a team-high 36 passes for 506 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 14.1 yards per reception. It's his highest yards per catch average since 2007 (14.5). Cromartie is a big, physical cornerback who has given Indianapolis fits since coming into the league. He has a team-leading two interceptions this season.
The series
67th regular-season meeting. The Colts lead series, 40-26.
Sports
Stanton enjoying home as Luck's backup in Indy
- Sports
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Tribune-Star/Bob Poynter Intense: West Vigo's #2 Lucas Fagg throws a pitch to the plate during Saturday's championship sectional game against South Vermillion.
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
West Vigo won its sectional with a 6-4 victory over South Vermillion on a rainy night at Dick Ballinger Field.
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Seeking elite status
Many stages are set in the long-running drama that is the Indianapolis 500.
The 97th running on the famed oval today has the potential to provide a new four-time champion in Helio Castroneves or Dario Franchitti.
A win for either driver would tie them for the all-time lead in the Indy 500 as A.J. Foyt (1961, ’64, ’67, ’77), Al Unser 1970-71, ’78, ’87) and Rick Mears (1979, ’84, 88, ’91) are atop that mountain with four wins a piece.
While Castroveneves starts in the middle of row three, he and his team won the pit stop competition on Carb Day. The last time Castroneves won the pit stop competition, he won his third Indy 500.
“The field is so close and we have at least 20 cars that are capable to win this race,” Castroneves said. “My previous win, it was actually won on that as well. We were able to execute in the right time and they were able to put me in a very good opportunity to execute.” -
South runs into ‘buzzsaw’ at girls tennis semistate
Postmatch interviews don’t often begin with a coach and a reporter ready to blurt out the same word, but that was the case for Bill Blankenbaker and his interviewer Saturday morning after the Center Grove Semistate for girls high school tennis.
Unfortunately for Blankenbaker’s Terre Haute South team, that word was “buzzsaw.”
Greenwood’s Kawamoto twins made quick work of the top of the Braves’ singles lineup, so despite stellar efforts by both South doubles teams the Woodmen’s 3-2 victory didn’t seem all that close.
Greenwood moves on to Fishers, where it plays Floyd Central or Jasper on Friday in the state quarterfinals.
Also playing Friday, but at Park Tudor, will be South’s Miranda Camp and Nicole Howe, who reached the individual doubles finals for the second straight season by virtue of their 6-4, 6-2 win over the Greenwood team of Taylor Hudnall and Brittany Toney.
“It’s really exciting,” said Howe of the prospect of a second straight finals trip, “but I wish our team could’ve gone with us.”
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Six Sycamores heading to NCAA Track and Field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman punched their tickets Friday to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore. Two more got the job done Saturday on the campus of UNC Greensoboro in the East Preliminary.
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Redneck Quaker: Crappie bait available if you keep looking
For those wanting to catch catfish on the river or crappie in a lake, there is a great place in town to pick up your live bait.
Inland Aquatics is located at 10 Ohio St., at the intersection of the Wabash River and Ohio, but you can’t get to it from Ohio Street. It is easily accessed from Wabash Avenue cul de sac, directly behind the Courthouse. The alternate parking is at the other end of Fairbanks Park from the boat ramp with plenty of room for trucks pulling boat trailers.
They have sold tropical fish for 20 years. There is always feeder goldfish and red wigglers available for the aquarium customers and a lot of fishermen stop to pick up some last-minute bait supplies. They became aware of the need of live bait in Terre Haute since Gander Mountain closed its bait shop. -
Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
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Coach adds regional host to job description
John Hayes has been a familiar face at high school baseball games this spring as he always is, enjoying the games but also looking for players who can help his Wayne Newton Post 346 American Legion team that will start its summer season shortly.
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Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
South Vermillion built an early 7-0 lead late Thursday night, then held off Owen Valley by a 10-4 score to advance to the championship game of the Class 3A West Vigo Sectional for high school baseball.
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
- Local Interest
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Tribune-Star/Bob Poynter Intense: West Vigo's #2 Lucas Fagg throws a pitch to the plate during Saturday's championship sectional game against South Vermillion.
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
West Vigo won its sectional with a 6-4 victory over South Vermillion on a rainy night at Dick Ballinger Field.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
- High School
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
West Vigo won its sectional with a 6-4 victory over South Vermillion on a rainy night at Dick Ballinger Field.
- South runs into ‘buzzsaw’ at girls tennis semistate
- Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
- Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
- West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
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- College
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Six Sycamores heading to NCAA Track and Field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman punched their tickets Friday to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore. Two more got the job done Saturday on the campus of UNC Greensoboro in the East Preliminary.
-
Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent.
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Six Sycamores heading to NCAA Track and Field championships
- Sports Columns
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Redneck Quaker: Crappie bait available if you keep looking
For those wanting to catch catfish on the river or crappie in a lake, there is a great place in town to pick up your live bait.
Inland Aquatics is located at 10 Ohio St., at the intersection of the Wabash River and Ohio, but you can’t get to it from Ohio Street. It is easily accessed from Wabash Avenue cul de sac, directly behind the Courthouse. The alternate parking is at the other end of Fairbanks Park from the boat ramp with plenty of room for trucks pulling boat trailers.
They have sold tropical fish for 20 years. There is always feeder goldfish and red wigglers available for the aquarium customers and a lot of fishermen stop to pick up some last-minute bait supplies. They became aware of the need of live bait in Terre Haute since Gander Mountain closed its bait shop. - RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Shooters compete to fight cancer
- TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
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Redneck Quaker: Crappie bait available if you keep looking
- Pro Sports
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Seeking elite status
Many stages are set in the long-running drama that is the Indianapolis 500.
The 97th running on the famed oval today has the potential to provide a new four-time champion in Helio Castroneves or Dario Franchitti.
A win for either driver would tie them for the all-time lead in the Indy 500 as A.J. Foyt (1961, ’64, ’67, ’77), Al Unser 1970-71, ’78, ’87) and Rick Mears (1979, ’84, 88, ’91) are atop that mountain with four wins a piece.
While Castroveneves starts in the middle of row three, he and his team won the pit stop competition on Carb Day. The last time Castroneves won the pit stop competition, he won his third Indy 500.
“The field is so close and we have at least 20 cars that are capable to win this race,” Castroneves said. “My previous win, it was actually won on that as well. We were able to execute in the right time and they were able to put me in a very good opportunity to execute.” - Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
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Seeking elite status
- Terre Haute Rex
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Auto Racing
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
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Top guns, again
New Galaxy Star Robbie Rogers Makes History
George discusses Game 2 performance
West happy with Game 2 win over Heat
Spoelstra on Heat's missed opportunities
Stephenson talks big Game 2 win
Castroneves, Franchitti on making history at Indy
Wertheim: Women's French Open Preview
Mattingly's Dodgers days still may be done
LeBron: 'My turnovers hurt more than anything'
Bosh, Heat not playing up to par
White Hot Heat! Heat vs. Pacers tonight
Cavaliers Use Day Off to Prepare for FSU
Nate Allen is looking for a bounce back season
Seabrook on Canucks series in 2011
Three and Out: Wheeler or Pineda
Cubs' Sveum on Jackson's struggles
Game 4: Blackhawks played against a "really smart team"
Game 4: Blackhawks' Seabrooks "deserved limited minutes"
Game 4: Blackhawks started, couldn't finish
Phil Jackson on leadership: 'You have to follow your intuitive nature'
Massive Flooding in San Antonio Area; Rescue Efforts Underway
Hope For The Boy Who Can't Smile
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Young protestor goes viral on Youtube
High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria
Toronto Mayor says he's not a crack head
Maine island offers lighthouse getaway
Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell
Should We Prepare for Quakes?
Lynn Kindergarten Class Rescues Ducklings
Congressional gold medal awarded to civil rights heroes
Charles Ramsey visits Kentucky
Unique Display Greets Guests At Revel Casino
Cape Cod Train Service Worries Residents
BASE jumper rides snowmobile off cliff to honor dead friend
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
SHOCKING: School Guard Throws Girl Down Stairs
Star Wars X-Wing Star Fighter Made of Legos
Actress Amanda Bynes Arrested in New York
Singer Psy Has An Imposter
