drewmar74
disgruntled
As a youngster playing football, Dan Orlovsky was blessed with size and a cannon arm.
The former Shelton High and UConn quarterback knew that, but he also had a clear understanding of what it would take to reach his dream of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. He knew size and a cannon arm wouldn't be enough.
"Every quarterback in the league can throw the ball but I always believed, ever since I was playing Pop Warner, that doing things like getting to practice early and working and staying afterward will help you down the road," Orlovsky said.
Orlovsky, 25, spent four years with the Detroit Lions, mostly as the No. 3 quarterback, before signing a three-year, $9.1 million deal, including a $2.4 million signing bonus, with the Houston Texans on March 1 to back up Matt Schaub.
"Paying attention to detail and doing all the little things, I think, is why I was blessed to be in position to get the contract with Houston," Orlovsky said.
Orlovsky, a fifth-round pick by the Lions in 2005, realized he had to make an impression last season if he was going to get another contract.
He made the first of his seven starts Oct. 12 against Minnesota after Jon Kitna was put on injured reserve. Orlovsky made an impression in a 12-10 loss, but one he would probably like to forget.
The Lions were at their 1 when Orlovsky dropped back to pass. The Vikings' Jared Allen broke through the line.
Breaking to his right, Orlovsky saw Allen but inadvertently stepped out of bounds in the back of the end zone. He not only ran out of bounds, but he kept running as if the play were still live while Allen was merely shadowing him and celebrating the safety.
"That wasn't the impression I was looking to make," Orlovsky said, laughing. "But I felt terrible. It was a stupid play and I was really down about it, but Jared DeVries, a defensive end and an 11-year veteran, comes up to me right after the play and says, 'Forget about that. We need you. Everybody makes mistakes.'
"[Wide receiver] Calvin Johnson comes up to me and says, 'Man, I didn't mean to laugh, but that stuff was funny.' So I mean, it happened. I'll be remembered for it, I'm sure. But you have to move on, and I did. After that game, I just went back to paying attention to detail again and doing the little things like I always did."
Orlovsky (6 feet 5, 230 pounds) made a more positive impression against the Texans in Houston the following week. The Lions lost that one, 28-21. In fact, they lost them all, going 0-16.
Detroit and Orlovsky made it close, outscoring the Texans 11-0 in the fourth quarter, which included a career-long, 96-yard TD pass from Orlovsky to Johnson. Orlovsky finished 12 of 25 for 265 yards with the TD pass and no interceptions.
Less than five months later, Orlovsky signed with Houston despite missing five games with a hand injury.
"It's a blessing," said Orlovsky, who will marry fiancee Tiffany Lesher in July. "Do I think I deserve that much? No, I don't. But I think I've earned it because I put a lot of work into playing this game and I didn't cheat or cut corners."
He looks at the contract as more of a reward with a greater one still out there to be a full-time starter.
"I don't know what the future holds for me here, but I'm going to continue to do the things that got me this far, my mainstays, and I'll continue to gain experience," Orlovsky said. "I may not be in the same place, but my goals have not changed. I want to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. I've made a long-term investment and commitment to making it happen."
linky dinky doo
The former Shelton High and UConn quarterback knew that, but he also had a clear understanding of what it would take to reach his dream of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. He knew size and a cannon arm wouldn't be enough.
"Every quarterback in the league can throw the ball but I always believed, ever since I was playing Pop Warner, that doing things like getting to practice early and working and staying afterward will help you down the road," Orlovsky said.
Orlovsky, 25, spent four years with the Detroit Lions, mostly as the No. 3 quarterback, before signing a three-year, $9.1 million deal, including a $2.4 million signing bonus, with the Houston Texans on March 1 to back up Matt Schaub.
"Paying attention to detail and doing all the little things, I think, is why I was blessed to be in position to get the contract with Houston," Orlovsky said.
Orlovsky, a fifth-round pick by the Lions in 2005, realized he had to make an impression last season if he was going to get another contract.
He made the first of his seven starts Oct. 12 against Minnesota after Jon Kitna was put on injured reserve. Orlovsky made an impression in a 12-10 loss, but one he would probably like to forget.
The Lions were at their 1 when Orlovsky dropped back to pass. The Vikings' Jared Allen broke through the line.
Breaking to his right, Orlovsky saw Allen but inadvertently stepped out of bounds in the back of the end zone. He not only ran out of bounds, but he kept running as if the play were still live while Allen was merely shadowing him and celebrating the safety.
"That wasn't the impression I was looking to make," Orlovsky said, laughing. "But I felt terrible. It was a stupid play and I was really down about it, but Jared DeVries, a defensive end and an 11-year veteran, comes up to me right after the play and says, 'Forget about that. We need you. Everybody makes mistakes.'
"[Wide receiver] Calvin Johnson comes up to me and says, 'Man, I didn't mean to laugh, but that stuff was funny.' So I mean, it happened. I'll be remembered for it, I'm sure. But you have to move on, and I did. After that game, I just went back to paying attention to detail again and doing the little things like I always did."
Orlovsky (6 feet 5, 230 pounds) made a more positive impression against the Texans in Houston the following week. The Lions lost that one, 28-21. In fact, they lost them all, going 0-16.
Detroit and Orlovsky made it close, outscoring the Texans 11-0 in the fourth quarter, which included a career-long, 96-yard TD pass from Orlovsky to Johnson. Orlovsky finished 12 of 25 for 265 yards with the TD pass and no interceptions.
Less than five months later, Orlovsky signed with Houston despite missing five games with a hand injury.
"It's a blessing," said Orlovsky, who will marry fiancee Tiffany Lesher in July. "Do I think I deserve that much? No, I don't. But I think I've earned it because I put a lot of work into playing this game and I didn't cheat or cut corners."
He looks at the contract as more of a reward with a greater one still out there to be a full-time starter.
"I don't know what the future holds for me here, but I'm going to continue to do the things that got me this far, my mainstays, and I'll continue to gain experience," Orlovsky said. "I may not be in the same place, but my goals have not changed. I want to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. I've made a long-term investment and commitment to making it happen."
linky dinky doo
in the end zone and so on, but they also had this little tid bit that I thought was interesting; 
