There rumors floating around that the  have beenLions are still looking for a veteran backup QB for the 2009 season. The front office created this cover story early in the off-season to try to hide the intent to draft <b>Matthew Stafford</b> with the #1 pick in the NFL draft. The draft is over , and the rumors still persist. At this point in time , to the best of my knowledge , the Lions have not contacted any free agent quarterback.

   I have put together a list of the quarterbacks remaining on the free agent market , and the list is not too impressive. So I invite you , the reader , to try to pick any QB from this list that might come to the Detroit Lions. Keep in mind , that for this to happen , the Lions must express an interest in that QB , then try to sign him.
Also , that Veteran QB will have to be happy with a third string position , behind <b>Daunte Culpepper</b> and <b>Matthew Stafford</b>.

Player             Pos. FA Type  Ht. Wt. Exp. 2008 Team

<b>Brooks Bollinger</b>   QB   UFA      6-1 205 7    Cowboys
<b>Ken Dorsey</b>         QB   Released 6-4 215 7    Browns
<b>Charlie Frye</b>       QB   UFA      6-4 217 5    Seahawks
<b>Jeff Garcia</b>        QB   UFA      6-1 205 11   Buccaneers
<b>Trent Green</b>        QB   Released 6-3 208 16   Rams
<b>Rex Grossman</b>       QB   UFA      6-1 217 7    Bears
<b>Gibran Hamdan</b>      QB   RFA      6-4 220 3    Bills
<b>J.P. Losman</b>        QB   UFA      6-2 212 6    Bills
<b>Jamie Martin</b>       QB   UFA      6-2 205 15   49ers
<b>Luke McCown</b>        QB   UFA      6-3 212 6    Buccaneers
<b>Marques Tuiasosopo</b> QB   UFA      6-1 220 9    Raiders
<b>Anthony Wright</b>     QB   UFA      6-1 211 10   NY Giants

 The name <b>Jeff Garcia</b> does stick out a little , and if the Buccaneers could have maintained the defense they had established earlier in the season in 2008 , he would have led them to the playoffs. The defense collapsed , and the team floundered. Garcia was a Lion in 2005 , and many consider his time here a failure. I would cross him off the list.
<b>Trent Green</b> has a lot of miles on his shoes , I would also rule him out. The best of the worst remaining at this point would be <b>Rex Grossman</b> , but would he come to Detroit to play third string qb?

   I think <b>Drew Stanton</b> is safe as the third string QB , worst case practice squad. Another thing that must be considered , would the Lions be willing to cut a second round draft pick for any of the free agent QBs? I hope not.

   The problem the front office has created is that Drew Stanton is at best an unknown commodity at quarterback. Think about this , whether you like Stanton or not , the Lions would be better off if he had received more playing time last year , and they would have a third string QB with more experience. As the QB roster stands now , Culpepper will start , Stafford is second string , and Stanton is trird string. Daunte Culpepper has to have an injury free season , or Stafford might be playing sooner than the Lions would want. The left tackle position is still a hole in my opinion , unless Jeff Backus is the come-back player of the year. I guess the Lions are happy with Backus at LT , but I wouldn't play Stafford there , and for the kicker , Stanton has no experience , and might be injury prone. The front office might be scrambling for a QB during the season , and that is a very real possibility.