Tampa Bay's Griese learned from pressure in Denver

ENGLEWOOD • The pressure Brian Griese felt as Denver Broncos quarterback was tremendous and, admittedly, he didn't handle it well. He wasn't universally hated in Denver, but to many he would always be the guy who replaced John Elway and didn't duplicate his success.

Griese, who is now quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has moved on from all that. He will start against the Broncos for the first time Sunday, and has no ill will against his former team or the city he calls home.

He still lives in Cherry Creek and his foundation, Judi's House, which is named for his late mother and helps children cope with the death of a loved one, is going strong.
He had no idea if he would be cheered or booed by Broncos fans, but five years after he was let go by the team, he is optimistic the reaction will be good.

"The people in Denver hopefully see me as a part of the community now," Griese said.

"Hopefully, they see me as a positive role model in the community and trying to help out the community that I've grown to love and live in. So, hopefully, it's positive."

His time as Elway's replacement isn't fresh in his mind anymore, but he remembers how tough it was. When Elway retired after winning a second straight Super Bowl, Griese was given the starting job over veteran Bubby Brister in a controversial move.

The turbulence started almost immediately. Denver started the 1999 season 0-4 and finished 6-10. Griese played well in 2000, making the Pro Bowl, but was injured late and Gus Frerotte started at quarterback in the playoffs.

Griese never started a playoff game for the Broncos. They were 8-8 in 2001 and 9-7 in 2002, with Griese throwing 34 interceptions those two seasons.

He was dumped after the 2002 season for Jake Plummer, who had his own rough times.

Griese, now 33, admits he wasn't prepared to be Denver's quarterback, especially the one who immediately succeeded Elway. He said he became a different person after Denver's 0-4 start his first year. He was withdrawn and didn't communicate well with his teammates, coaches or the media. He was thought of as gruff and aloof by the media when he was Denver's quarterback.

"It got to a point where it was tough to come to work with all of the pressure and all the anxiety and struggles that go on in this position in the league," Griese said. "You have to be able to enjoy the journey, enjoy all parts of it and have that perspective. I wasn't in that place when I was in Denver that I am now."

Griese said he looks back fondly at his time with the Broncos, and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he respects Griese.

He said Griese is a good person who handles himself well off the field, and also said Griese wasn't at fault for all of his on-field problems with the Broncos.
Shanahan said he thought Griese was a good player who didn't get enough help.

"We just didn't have the supporting cast that we might have today," Shanahan said.

"Brian has demonstrated that with the right supporting cast he can win a lot of football games, like most quarterbacks."

Griese said he learned some lessons from being let go by the Broncos and having to resurrect his career. He has mostly been a backup, but has an 18-12 record as a starter since leaving Denver.

His rough times with the Broncos shaped who he is today.

"I had to learn from those situations," Griese said.

"I'm a very different person and different player now, but I am that way because of my experiences there. I'm just glad that I had the opportunity to learn from them."

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