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Welcome to Miami Dolphins to add ex-Bronco Griese to back up FiedlerPosted: Friday June 06, 2003 9:24 PMUpdated: Friday June 06, 2003 9:38 PM
MIAMI (AP) -- Quarterback Brian Griese agreed to a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins on Friday, ending a weeklong courtship that began after he was released by the Denver Broncos. Griese's agent, Ralph Cindrich, said the contract has not been signed. "We do have the parameters of a deal worked out," said Cindrich, who would not elaborate further. Miami officials have not confirmed the deal. Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene declined comment. Griese is expected to arrive for a physical Sunday and could be formally introduced as early as Monday. Griese is a Miami native whose father -- Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese -- led the Dolphins during their glory days of the 1970s and won two Super Bowls with the franchise. He will be listed second on the depth chart behind Jay Fiedler. Miami has insisted that Fiedler will be the team's starter this season. Griese is expected to make about $500,000 this season, plus a signing bonus, with the opportunity for incentives. The deal, when completed, is expected to give Griese the chance to earn between $1.5 and $2 million this season. Under the expected terms of the deal, Griese would cost the Dolphins a significant price against their 2004 salary cap, meaning the Dolphins will either have to release Griese, restructure the second year of the deal or keep him as the starting quarterback. "Brian's very happy to get this done," Cindrich said. The Broncos parted ways with Griese on Monday, releasing him in a move that will save the club more than $6 million against the salary cap in the next two seasons, including $4.9 million this year alone. Griese's departure from Denver was hardly a surprise. The Broncos signed quarterback Jake Plummer to a seven-year, $40 million deal in March, a few days after granting Griese permission to seek a trade -- something that proved impossible because of the Broncos' salary-cap inflexibility. It's also been no secret that the Dolphins were looking for someone to back up Fiedler. In April, Miami released Ray Lucas, who lost four of six starts last season while Fiedler recovered from a broken thumb. In Denver, Griese never got out from under the shadow left by John Elway, who retired in 1999 after winning consecutive Super Bowls. Griese was just 27-24 as a starter and took the Broncos to the playoffs just once in four years. |
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