Age: 29
7th
season in pro football, 1st with Buccaneers
College: Michigan
Height: 6’3” Weight: 214
Prelude:
Griese, the son
of Hall of Fame QB Bob Griese, was a successful walk-on in college who passed
for 3663 yards and 27 touchdowns and capped his career at Michigan with a Rose
Bowl victory. He was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the
1998 NFL draft and spent his rookie year backing up QB John Elway. With Elway
retired, Griese took over the starting job in 1999 and, hampered by injuries (a
recurring theme), threw for 3032 yards and 14 TDs, with as many interceptions.
While again plagued by injuries, he showed improvement in 2000, passing for
2688 yards and 19 touchdowns, with just four interceptions, and led the NFL
with a 102.9 passer rating. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl but also needed
shoulder surgery for the second straight year. Griese struggled with
consistency in 2001 and his interception total rose to 19. A smart and accurate,
if not strong-armed, passer at his best, his leadership skills and confidence
came under question, particularly in clutch situations, and after another
disappointing year in 2002 he was let go and moved on to the Miami Dolphins in
’03, where he started five games and was unimpressive. Griese joined the
Buccaneers in 2004 as the third-string quarterback but, when QB Chris Simms
went down with an injury, he took over the starting job and performed well.
2004 Season Summary
Appeared in
11 of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Passing
Attempts – 336
Most
attempts, game – 50 at San Diego 12/12
Completions –
233
Most
completions, game – 36 at San Diego 12/12
Yards – 2632
Most yards,
game – 392 at San Diego 12/12
Completion
percentage – 69.3 [1]
Yards per
attempt – 7.8 [8]
TD passes – 20
[14, tied with Drew Bledsoe]
Most TD
passes, game – 3 at San Diego 12/12, vs. Carolina 12/26
Interceptions
– 12 [15, tied with Joey Harrington & Michael Vick]
Most
interceptions, game – 3 at San Diego 12/12
Passer rating
– 97.5 [6]
300-yard
passing games – 3
200-yard
passing games – 6
Rushing
Attempts – 30
Most
attempts, game – 5 (for -2 yds.) at New Orleans 10/10
Yards – 17
Most yards,
game – 9 yards (on 2 carries) at Carolina 11/28
Average gain
– 0.6
TDs – 0
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 1
Yards – -4
TDs – 0
Buccaneers
went 5-11 to finish fourth in the NFC South.
Aftermath:
Griese started
six games in 2005, five of which the Bucs won, but a knee injury cut his season
short and he was let go afterward. He moved on to the Bears as a backup in 2006
and saw considerable action in ’07 in place of starting QB Rex Grossman until
he again was injured. Griese was traded back to Tampa Bay in 2008 and started
five games in what was his last season. Overall, he passed for 19,440 yards and
119 touchdowns, with 4841 yards and 32 TDs coming with the Bucs. Griese was
chosen to one Pro Bowl in a career that was marked by injuries and
inconsistency.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
