SPORTS-(BRONCOS)
Archive
Vs. Miami Dolphins (L 10-21)
It was Brian Griese's triumphant homecoming. Griese grew up in and around Miami and
was elated at the chance to play in his hometown, in front of friends and family.
Not only was his old man, Bob Griese in attendance, but several of his lifelong
friends, childhood buddies and high school drinking pals. The Dolphins' ticket office
was holding tickets for all of Griese's old pals: Stevie, Luggnutt, Jonesy, Hinky, 8-ball,
Whitey, Scooter, Gonzo, Louie and Bounce-Bounce. Not since the "What's Happenin'" reunion had
there been such a gathering of long-lost buddies. Griese was back in his "hood" and
was out to make everyone proud.
What they got to see was, in fact, Griese's career-defining moment. With a close lead
in the fourth quarter, Griese was under pressure from Miami's defense. He stepped up into
the pocket and , like a true superstar QB,
completed one of his longest passes of the season- a 58 yard touchdown strike
in crunch time to would put the game away. Only one problem: he completed this pass
to Miami defensive end Kenny Mixon. Mixon beat out Trey Teague in the weightman's relay,
and rumbled into the endzone. The game was out of reach. Griese had won the game...
for Miami.
The very next posession, Chirs Cole complicated matters, and fumbled the kickoff.
Miami somehow found the fortitude to mount a gritty, 8 yard drive and score again.
Not content, Griese had the ball on the next posession and was sacked. Instead of holding onto
the ball, he tried to roll the ball, BACKWARDS, into the closest Dolphin defender. Just like
he had made a startout of Raylee Johnson, last month, Griese was making stars out of
Miami's defense.
Denver was up 10-0 entering the fourth quarter. Terrell Davis had racked up
80-some yards, and together with Mike Anderson, was controlling the clock and
keeping Jay Fiedler and the Miami offense off the field. The last 15 minutes seemed
a small formality. Desomd Clark caught a TD pass and the returning KaRon Coleman
was catching passes out of the backfiled while doing his best
Steve Sewell/ Glyn Milburn impersonation.
The Broncos' defensive slogan for the day was "Punt=Love", to
borrow a phrase from the countless Plymouth commercials that ran during the game.
Sure, Denver had been outscored 55-3 in the fourth quarter over the last month...but
Miami seemed to avoid the endzone like it was a 32 foot alligator getting over an
appetite problem. But when the quarter ended, Dolphin fans felt a 1970's flashback-
Griese had won another close game for their team.
Bronco fans believe Brian Griese just needs time and more protection to
mature into an elite quarterback. It's been almost three seasons, and he
is still underthrowing receivers, unable to see the blitz, showing no poise,
making horrible reads (throwing a 1 yard pass to KaRon Coleman on 2 and 21?),
and lacking mobility.... but he's All-Pro caliber at throwing his towel in disgust,
sitting dejectedly on the bench and telling the rest of the team to "step up".
Miami's offensive stats were ugly for this game...Griese was handed the game on a
silver platter, with napkins, appetizers, dessert and even a fortune cookie.
A pro quarterback couldn't ask for anything more. Griese hacked on the
appetizers, spilled the platter, dropped his silverware, ran to the bathroom
before dessert arrive, and left his team with the outlandish check.
Non-Bronco fans (Raider fans, especially) like to point out that this team is .500
since John Elway retired. More specifically, this team is 18-19 with Griese at quarterback,
and 5-2 without him (6-10 in 1999, 6-3 in 2000, 6-6 in 2001). "yeah, I know I can
play this game".
Although the Raiders lost, the Broncos' playoff hopes ended with Mixon's belly-flop into
the endzone. Five of the top six teams in the AFC would have to re-locate to
the CFL for Denver to have any chance of slipping in. With Griese locked up
for the next six years, this could be the norm for the next few seasons.
Unless....expansion draft comes along, Griese is left unprotected and goes
to the Houston Texans.
Broncos then admit failure, draft a new QB (say, Ken Dorsey of Miami),
and let Gus Frerotte or Jarious Jackson be next year's stop-gap starter. It may sound insane,
but ask yourself this: "could anybody possibly do a shittier job than Griese?"
FINAL CUTS
If they ever decide to film an updated movie version of "One Day at a Time", I'd
say Dave Wannstedt is a shoo-in for the role of Schneider. Don't laugh..for all we know,
such a project is already in development.
...||...
Was that Jeff Garcia, Thursday night, on ESPN's halftime show...or was it
Brandon from Survivor?!?
...||...
Jerry Rice's corn rows seem to be receeding. Irrigation (or Rogaine) is needed to
sustain America's breadbasket.
...||...
At 5'7", KaRon Coleman did the Smurf Village proud, on Sunday. Papa Smurf was
set to hold a news conference on Tuesday, to announce a new United Way-type program
between the Smurf Village and its most famous citizen, Coleman. He's set to
pick up trash around the mushrooms of the lower-income Smurfs.
