Griese says he's glad to be back with Bucs

   Quarterback Brian Griese admits he gave coach Jon Gruden and earful for trading for him in March.

   The Chicago Bears were set to cut Griese when the Bucs sent them a sixth-round pick in exchange.

   Making his first practice appearance with the Bucs' during Tuesday's OTA's, Griese said he was unhappy the team decided to part ways with him after the 2005 season.

   Griese had gone 5-1 as a starter that year before suffering torn knee ligaments against the Miami Dolphins.

   Griese was under contract, but the Bucs had decided to go with Chris Simms as their starter in 2006 and wanted their injured quarterback to take a pay cut. He refused, was released and wound up signing with the Bears.

   So Griese insists he has some unfinished business in Tampa Bay.

   "It's tough. It was tough to go out like that with an injury that early in the season, especially with us being 5-1'' Griese said. "It hurt. It hurt bad. There's no doubt about it that I have unfinished business here. I felt very comfortable and never really wanted to leave here. I really wanted to be here and so two years later, it's good to be back. I'm off my hiatus and ready to go back to work.''

   

Comments

[shane]

i think griese was mad at the bucs for being stupid and giving up a draft pick instead of waiting to sign him after the bears released him

[Jay]

Someone was drinking deeply from the well of stupidity when they let Thomas Jones go to the Bears too.

[John Klopfer]

Welcome home Brian! Sorry that it didn't quite pan out in Chicago, but I am glad you are back in the fold.

[JR]

griese is mad because the bucs traded for him so he wasnt able to sign a new deal, meaning he wouldnt be able to make more money. We got him below market value and he is mad at us for that.

[Quentin]

JR, I wouldn't be so sure of that. His value was probably a lot higher at the end of 2005, fresh off one good season and then a 5-1 start with decent stats, than it is after his performance in Chicago. I could see maybe Minnesota paying him more than he's making, but it's just as likely that we value him more highly than other teams because of our previous experience with him.

Also, the font and spacing on this post makes it kind of hard to read.

[Justin M]

Stroud,
Would you like to recant a statement from one of your recent articles where you said that Brian Griese didnt want to be traded to the Bucs?

[aj]

Justin, what the heck are you talking about. Read the article.

"Quarterback Brian Griese admits he gave coach Jon Gruden and earful for trading for him in March."

And now they've kissed and made up.

Justin,
Would you like to recant a statement from one of your recent posts where you said that Rick Stroud said Griese didnt want to be traded to the Bucs?

[Rob H]

I'm more of a Griese fan than a Bucs fan, but I am happy to see Brian back with teh Bucs. He once completed nearly 70% of his passes for the Bucs. They know what he can do, unlike the Bears.

[Tony G.]

AJ, that is Stroud's version of what Griese said, not an exact quote. Griese gave Gruden a hard time for releasing him in 2005. The idea that Griese is unhappy to be here is a pile of crap, stick to listening to Duemig and reading Stroud, that should really help your Buc IQ...NOT

[Rick]

This was just a post, Tony, but yes, I've talked to Brian and Jon Gruden and their stories are the same. Griese did not have many nice things to say immediately after he was traded from Chicago. I've quoted Gruden in the past on this from the owner's meetings in Palm Beach. I think some time has passed and he had a lot of bitter feelings about being released by the Bucs in 2005.
I don't think you'll see many players quoted blasting the organization they've been traded to, including Griese.
It was Gruden who made us aware that Griese really wasn't on board at first about the trade, which came one day before he was going to be released by the Bears and become a free agent.
You can doubt the information, but it came from Gruden.

[Matt B]

griese is done........ we have luke mcCown as our backup with josh johnson as our future griese has no game with the bucs we are tired of these paperboy arm Qbs we need a gun Slunger... Josh, or Luke, as our future... garcia for this year because with him managing our offense this year we have a good chance for a superball, and i think our offensive line is the best we ever had...

[Herb]

I'm glag Griese is back, last time he was wearing a Bucs uniform, the offense was humming.