Chance for ring is the thing for veteran safety Griffith

	Robert Griffith has accumulated over 1,000 tackles and 27 interceptions in his 13-year NFL career. Peter Brouillet/WireImage.com
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"I am not delusional," Robert Griffith swears over the telephone, a statement that has nothing to do with the fact that the longtime bachelor is getting married this Saturday in Orange County at the ripe age of 36, and everything to do with his desire to keep playing pro football.

Now all he needs is to convince someone in charge of an NFL team to give him the wedding gift he craves: A chance.

It shouldn't be that hard a sell. Griffith spent the previous 13 seasons as a relatively inconspicuous but highly accomplished NFL safety, the last two years with the Arizona Cardinals, who did not make him an offer after his contract expired in February. He's a smart, unselfish, tough player who is great in the locker room and has bonded with teammates as dissimilar as Randy Moss and Kurt Warner.

He's in good shape, helped groom ex-Cards teammate Adrian Wilson into a Pro Bowl strong safety and isn't asking for anything beyond the NFL minimum salary for a player of his tenure, plus incentives. And here's the kicker: Thanks to sound investments and a multitude of non-football talents and opportunities, he doesn't even need the gig. He just desperately wants to win.

"I don't have to play," he says. "I'm financially stable. But I still feel like I have a responsibility to try to chase that ring, and with my knowledge and what I still have left, I can help a team get one. I know this is a young man's game, and every player has his time. But I b.s. you not -- I have one good year in me."

Griffith is hoping to get an offer from a team he believes is a Super Bowl contender, and the Ravens, Bears and Panthers have all piqued his interest. He's also highly intrigued by the Patriots, who are waiting to see how 34-year-old safety Rodney Harrison bounces back from two consecutive injury-marred seasons. The Buccaneers, who enter 2007 with a 'Win Now' mentality given the uncertain job status of coach Jon Gruden, are also on his list.

Unemployed though he currently may be, Griffith didn't exactly struggle last season: He had 80 tackles, including 10 in the season finale against the Chargers, as well as three interceptions, 10 passes defensed and a forced fumble. Since he became a free agent, two respected personnel men have told Griffith that, in his words, "I don't stink." SI spoke to another on Wednesday who echoed that notion, saying, "He's definitely still got something. He can still hit hard, and he knows exactly where to be. I think he can help somebody."

One thing is certain: After eight seasons with the Vikings, three with the rebooted Browns and two with the Cardinals, Griffith has a pretty good handle on what he doesn't find helpful from an organization. For instance, when a team Fed Exes you a contract, which you then sign and return, it's a bad sign if your subsequent signing-bonus check isn't a round number.