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Guessing game Griese or Frerotte? Broncos not saying
Updated: Thursday December 28, 2000 1:16 AM
DENVER (AP) -- Which Denver quarterback will the Baltimore Ravens face in Sunday's wild-card playoff game? Super secretive Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is refusing to tip his hand, closing practices to the media and suggesting he might not settle on a starter until after Friday's practice. Brian Griese, who separated his throwing shoulder against Oakland on Nov. 13 and missed the next five games, returned to the lineup but reinjured his shoulder in the regular-season finale, a 38-9 victory against San Francisco on Saturday. Griese, the NFL's top-rated passer, threw the ball during a walkthrough Wednesday morning and again at the regular practice several hours later. Griese admitted Wednesday that landing on his shoulder with 305-pound 49ers defensive tackle Brentson Buckner on top of him "set it back a little bit," but he insisted that after two days of rest, his shoulder was "getting better every day." If Griese is not close to 100 percent, the Broncos will go with Gus Frerotte, who played most of the San Francisco game and went 4-2 as a starter for Denver this season. "Brian got some throws in and was better than I thought he would be," Shanahan said following the afternoon workout. "I was pleased with what he did [Wednesday], and hopefully he can do a little bit more in the next two days and there will be no setback. "I'll probably make a decision sometime after practice Friday." Asked if withholding a decision might prove disadvantageous to the Ravens, Shanahan said, "I don't think it affects them at all. They've seen what both guys can do." So why the mystery? In Shanahan's world of total preparation and attention to detail, even the slightest bit of confusion or uncertainty on the part of an opponent can give his team the edge. There's also the likelihood that Shanahan honestly doesn't know who the starter will be as long as Griese continues to show the effects of his injury. Denver's offensive players say they can win with either quarterback. "It doesn't change anything," said Pro Bowl-bound wide receiver Rod Smith. "They'll get the job done, whoever is in there. It's up to the rest of us to make some plays." Running back Mike Anderson agreed. "There's no big difference," he said. "There's no dropoff or anything like that." Ravens head coach Brian Billick expects Griese to start, but says his team will be prepared for either quarterback. "I have no reason to think Brian Griese wouldn't be starting based on the way he came back in the other day and what I'm seeing and hearing," Billick said. "Their quarterbacks are similar enough. "They're both pretty good quarterbacks. Brian is outstanding, a Pro Bowler. You give him enough time and he's going to rip you apart. I don't know if Gus is quite as precise down the field, but he does find ways to make things happen." With Griese and Frerotte sharing the duties, the Broncos finished the regular season ranked second in the NFL in total offense, second in rushing and third in passing. The Ravens have the league's No. 2 defense, and it's ranked first against the run.
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