By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published October 23, 2005
TAMPA - A torn left knee ligament ended Brian Griese's season. What damage will it do to the rest of his career?
Griese had appeared to find a home in Tampa Bay. As the Bucs quarterback, he wasn't replacing a legend like John Elway in Denver or trying to walk in the footsteps of one like his father, Bob Griese, in Miami.
He earned everything with the Bucs, accepting a position as the No. 3 quarterback and working his way to the top. Along the way, he led the league with a 69.3 completion percentage and set a club record with a 97.5 passer rating last season.
Although he threw some costly interceptions at the end of '04 and to start this season, Griese was the undisputed leader of the offense. He was at his best when he got hurt last weekend, having completed 12 of 16 passes, including a touchdown, against the Dolphins.
"I think he'll be back," coach Jon Gruden said. "He's done a good job for us."
But even Gruden knows it's not that simple.
Griese signed a five-year, $32-million contract last spring that included a $3-million bonus. It's structured essentially as a series of one-year deals.
The Bucs will owe Griese a $2.6-million roster bonus as well as commit to a $3.5-million base salary before the start of free agency in '06, escalating his salary-cap value to $7.1-million. If Chris Simms establishes himself as the starter in the next 10 games, or at least someone capable of outperforming Griese, the Bucs will face a difficult decision.
"If you put it in perspective, he's thrown for about 66 or 67 percent for 15 games," Gruden said of Griese. "As far as I know, somebody told me he's the single-season passing efficiency leader in Buccaneer history.
"He did some great things for us and will do some great things in the future."
But so much of Griese's future is tied to Simms. If the third-year pro from Texas is going to fulfill his dream of being a starter in Tampa Bay, he may have to guide the Bucs to the playoffs this year.
Simms will be a restricted free agent after the season, meaning the Bucs can match any offer and/or demand compensation if he signs with another team, based on the offer he is tendered by Tampa Bay.
In other words, if Simms wins, he's not going anywhere except to the bank.
This is Griese's biggest problem. He can't throw another pass this season, but how his performance is remembered will have everything to do with how Simms plays.
The Bucs are hedging their bets. That's why they traded for the 49ers' Tim Rattay. Simms and Luke McCown have a combined six starts in the NFL, and the Bucs aren't jumping into their division schedule without a parachute.
Remember, when the season started, the Bucs didn't have a conviction about any of their quarterbacks. They didn't trust Griese enough to give him more than $3-million to sign. They didn't trust Simms enough to not re-sign Griese.
In the end, the Bucs must look at Griese's record. In games he's played, the Bucs are 10-7. Most years, that's good enough to win a division and make the playoffs. Considering the cast Griese had to work with, it's remarkable.
"He's a big reason why we're 5-1," Gruden said. "He took a lot of credit for our loss. Didn't take much credit for the wins. That's just his nature.
"He'll be back with me, I promise you that. Whereever we go, who knows?"
