It doesn't look like quarterback Brian Griese will be handing off the starting job any time soon.
By JOANNE KORTH and ROGER MILLS
Published October 26, 2004
TAMPA - If Bucs quarterback Brian Griese continues to succeed, he will continue to start.
Griese, who replaced injured Chris Simms Oct. 10 at New Orleans, has completed 71 percent of his passes in three games, including both wins. If he keeps it up, coach Jon Gruden said Monday that Griese will remain the starter after Simms' bruised left throwing shoulder heals.
"If he keeps going like he's going, we might have to get a lifetime contract going here," Gruden said. "There will be no debate if he keeps playing the way he is playing.
"We love Chris Simms. We think he is going to be an outstanding pro. But if you continue to throw for 70, 72, 74 percent and make great decisions and make clutch throws in key situations, good for Tampa Bay Buccaneers football."
Griese is 58 of 82 for 643 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
His numbers compare to two of the season's most lauded quarterbacks, but Griese is 16 attempts shy of the minimum 14 per game required by the Elias Sports Bureau, the NFL's official stat keeper.
Otherwise, Griese's 70.7 completion percentage would rank second in the NFC behind the Vikings' Daunte Culpepper (73.3) and his 104.9 rating would be third behind Culpepper (124.0) and the Eagles' Donovan McNabb (105.6).
"I do not know a lot of guys in their first three (games) with a new team and a new system who come in and throw for 71 percent," Gruden said. "This guy does a lot of things that nobody knows about, except the coaching staff and the football team, that are great decisions and show a great amount of poise and understanding. He is a clutch football player. I think he can be outstanding in this football system."
Griese, 29, signed with Tampa Bay in March. He makes $550,000 in the first year of a three-year contract that jumps to $2-million in 2005 and '06.
O'DWYER UPDATE: The Bucs need to make a decision soon regarding guard Matt O'Dwyer , who began the season on the physically unable to perform list with a torn pectoral muscle. A 21-day evaluation period for players reinstated from the list began last week.
"If he is physically ready to go, we will have to activate him and create a roster spot," Gruden said. "He's making progress in the weight room with his rehab. I think he is getting close."
LINE OF DEFENSE: One area the Bucs are pleased with is the defensive line. Pro Bowl right end Simeon Rice seems to be finding his groove, left end Greg Spires continues to play well and though the Bucs lost Ellis Wyms and Damian Gregory to season-ending injuries, they got solid efforts from Dewayne White , Josh Savage and Corey Smith , all ends who had to play inside.
But the big reason for optimism was Rice. Held sackless in the first two games, Rice now has four sacks in the last five, including two against the Bears.
Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli said Rice, who has 41.5 sacks through his first three seasons with the Bucs, has been steadily finding his rhythm.
"He's a streaker," Marinelli said. "You know he is (about to get on a roll). That first one was a beautiful one last week (against the Rams) on one of the all-time great tackles in the game ( Orlando Pace ). It was a beautiful move and you thought, "Okay, here he goes.' It wasn't just those two sacks, it was the hand on the ball at the end of the game, that was a big play. That won't go in the sack category, it won't go in any category other than helping us win the game. Some guys get the sacks when the game is over that don't impact the game. I like impact rushes."
Equally encouraging was the play of White, who not only recorded the first sack of his career but did it from the tackle position.
"I thought Dewayne showed up and made some impact plays," Gruden said. "I hope that is a launching pad for him. I hope that generates some confidence in his play because he does have talent."
INJURY UPDATE: Gruden said the team "had no idea" whether receiver Charles Lee (knee sprain) could return Nov. 7 against the Chiefs.
"I think it's probably 50-50," Gruden said. "We'll list him as questionable. He suffered a serious injury."
Lee hurt his knee against the Rams, left the field then returned to finish the game. He was inactive against the Bears.
