Griese unlikely to re-sign

By RICK STROUD
Published March 16, 2006

UPDATE: Former Saints quarterback visited One Buc Place today. More details to follow. 

TAMPA - It is appears unlikely Brian Griese will play for the Bucs next season.

Griese has scheduled visits this weekend with the Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears and also has received interest from the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens.

It was expected that Griese might make a rapid return to the Bucs after being released in a salary cap maneuver on the eve of the free agent signing period last week.

But Griese finalized plans to visit other teams just one day after the Bucs received permission from the Washington Redskins to speak with quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

The Redskins are seeking a fourth round pick for Ramsey, who has 24 starts in four seasons.

Griese, who turns 31 this month, still has a proposal to return to the Bucs, but it appears unlikely he plans to accept it.

In Cincinnati, he could be a starter until injured Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer recovers from knee surgery.

The Bears are looking for a veteran to back up starter Rex Grossman, who has been injury-prone throughout his career. The Vikings, who traded Daunte Culpepper to the Dolphins for a second-round pick Tuesday, plan to go with 38-year-old Brad Johnson.

Griese's best chance to compete for a starting job might be in Baltimore, where the Ravens aren't wedded to quarterback Kyle Boller. But for now, he has no visit with the Ravens scheduled.

[Last modified March 16, 2006, 21:15:23]