MIAMI, 1 November 2003 — Brian Griese makes his case for taking over as Miami’s starting quarterback here tomorrow when the Dolphins host Indianapolis, led by National Football League touchdown pass leader Peyton Manning.
Griese, son of Dolphins quarterback legend Bob Griese, completed 20-of-29 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns Monday in a 26-10 victory over San Diego, lifting Miami to 5-2 and a half-game behind AFC East leader New England.
That performance in relief of injured Jay Fielder has Griese back calling signals even with Fielder’s sprained left knee improved. In many ways, tomorrow will be an audition to seize Fielder’s job permanently.
“Will there now be a quarterback controversy? You’d have to be an idiot to think that’s not going to happen,” Dolphins tight end Randy McMichael said. “Of course that’s going to happen. But we can’t let that distract us.” Miami coach Dave Wannstedt said Griese brings the Dolphins their best chance to win tomorrow, trying to play down the job duel. “Nobody is excited about a situation like this,” he said. Griese, who spent five years with Denver in a failed bid to become John Elway’s heir, tries to focus on the team’s needs and not personal glory.
“There are a lot of circumstances that you just have to deal with,” Griese said. “If I have to prove myself every week, then that’s what I’m prepared to do. I’m not out there trying to play well every week so I can play the next. I’m out there to play well because I have pride and I want this team to win.
“It’s a difficult situation. I’ve been in Jay’s shoes. I know how he feels. He needs to know that I’m going to be there for him no matter what happens. There are a lot of things going on that we have to get better at offensively. I’m going to go in there and play my hardest because that’s my job and that’s what I love to do.”
Fiedler sees the switch as a one-week move to help his injury heal, not a banishment to the bench.
“It’s starting to feel better. But that, combined with the way Brian came in, I’m sure had something to do with this decision,” he said. “My focus is getting my knee healthy as fast as possible and getting ready to play.”
The visiting Colts, off to their best start since 1977 at 6-1, lead Tennessee by a half-game in the AFC South. They feature former University of Miami running back Edgerrin James and prolific passer Manning. Manning has completed 161-of-233 passes for 1,862 yards, third-best among NFL quarterbacks, and a league-high 15 touchdowns.
But Manning faces a Miami defense that allows the fewest points in the NFL, only 12.4 a game. Miami cornerback Patrick Surtain shares the NFL lead with six interceptions. The Dolphins have 13 total pickoffs, second-best in the NFL. The Dolphins could seize the division lead with a victory if New England, 6-2, loses at Denver, 5-3, on Monday night in the only other game this week involving two clubs with winning records.
AFC West leader Kansas City, the only undefeated team remaining in the NFL at 8-0, is idle this week along with Tennessee, Cleveland and Buffalo.
Arizona Awarded 2008 Super Bowl
In Chicago, the 2008 Super Bowl will be held in Arizona, the NFL said on Thursday.
Just three days after Tempe, Arizona, filled in as Monday night NFL host with wildfires raging in southern California, league owners voted for the 2008 Super Bowl to go to the Arizona Cardinals’ new stadium.
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and team owners praised the Cardinals for pitching in to assure that Monday night’s game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers would go on as scheduled, then awarded them the biggest game of all.
Tempe’s Sun Devil Stadium, the current home of the Cardinals, was the site of Super Bowl XXX in January, 1996.
