Brian Griese

Griese enters the 2007 season once again as Rex Grossman's primary backup. The veteran quarterback was used strictly for mop-up duty last year, entering six games but never seeing any meaningful snaps in his first campaign as a Bear. Though Griese is a capable QB who could fare well running Chicago's offense, Grossman clearly is the man there and that does not figure to change. Unless Grossman gets hurt or falters badly, Griese likely will spend another season holding the clipboard in the Windy City.

After two years of refusing to sign a veteran backup quarterback only to watch Rex Grossman suffer season-ending injuries, the Bears wisely inked Griese this offseason. Almost fully recovered from October knee surgery, the former Wolverine will enter 2006 as Grossman's backup. With the Bears set to win now, however, poor play from Grossman could lead to Griese getting the call. Having already proven he can step in and play well (20 TD passes in 10 starts with the Bucs in 2004), Griese would be worth adding if he takes over the starting job this season.

Griese is another quarterback salvaged from the scrap heap who made good in 2004 – to the tune of a five-year, $32 million contract this past February. Griese earned his money by throwing for 20 touchdowns and 2,632 yards in just 11 games, numbers that prorate to 29 TDs and 3,828 yards over a full 16. Griese doesn’t have outstanding physical tools – his arm isn’t great, and though he’s nimble in the pocket, he’s not much of a scrambler – but he’s got quarterback guru Jon Gruden for a coach, and given what Gruden was able to get out of Rich Gannon and Brad Johnson, it wouldn’t surprise us to see Griese pick up where he left off in 2004.

Depending on how one reads the tea leaves, Griese will either (a) backup Brad Johnson and serve as injury insurance for the 2004 Bucs, or (b) he'll push Johnson for the starting job. Our guess is that Giese will start as (a) in camp, but might turn into plan (b) if Johnson falters once the season starts.

Griese was sought after and brought to Miami by Dolphins management as there was a dire need to improve the back-up quarterback situation. Against the beliefs of many, Griese was not brought in to challenge Fiedler for the starting position. He does, however, hold one of the most important back-up roles in the NFL as starter Jay Fiedler is incredibly fragile and extremely injury prone. Griese will need to learn a new offense and be ready for action should something happen to Fiedler. If you are in a deep league and have Fiedler as one of your QB's, it might be wise to have Griese stashed away.