Griese Questions His Denver Future

Brian Griese questioned his future with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday after learning he will not start at quarterback against Arizona even if his sprained left knee is sound.

Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan said Steve Beuerlein would start Sunday. The news left Griese dejected and somber at his weekly news conference.

“I’ve always had passion for the game,” Griese said. “I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t have passion for the game. It’s just that this isn’t fun for me. I don’t know who it would be fun for. I don’t think that anybody in my situation would have a good time sitting here on Christmas talking about this kind of stuff. But that’s my life, and so I’ll find a way to go forward.”

Shanahan said he made the decision based on Denver’s 28-16 loss to Oakland on Sunday, and not on how Griese fits into Denver’s future plans.

The Broncos would have had a chance to win the AFC West title had they defeated the Raiders, but fell behind, 21-0, after Griese had two passes intercepted in the first quarter. His quarterback rating was 14.2 before Bill Romanowski knocked him out in the second quarter.

Beuerlein threw for 288 yards and a touchdown, leading the Broncos to 16 points before the Raiders pulled away.

“When a guy really steps up and performs like [Beuerlein] did, and Brian didn’t have one of his better games, I feel that it gives us the best chance to win by giving that person an opportunity to start,” Shanahan said.

“And we’re talking about this game. You don’t know anything beyond this game. My job is to give our football team the best chance to win this weekend.”

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Rob Johnson practiced with the first team and will be Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback against the Chicago Bears if Brad Johnson can’t play Sunday night because of a severe lower-back bruise.

The Buccaneers (11-4) are out of contention for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. However, they can be seeded No. 2 if they beat the Bears and the Green Bay Packers lose to the New York Jets earlier in the day.

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Running back Priest Holmes is out for Kansas City’s regular-season finale against Oakland on Saturday. Holmes, who is two touchdowns away from the NFL season record of 26, injured his hip at Denver on Dec. 15.... Green Bay signed kick returner Eric Metcalf, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and tackle Jeff Blackshear as free agents.