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Sunday, September 08, 2002

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Three musings on three starting quarterbacks:

Tight end and open mike Shannon Sharpe believes the Denver Broncos will go only as far as Brian Griese takes them.

"Everything begins with Griese," Sharpe said. "He understands that."

Kordell Stewart never had the ups and downs this guy has had over the past two seasons. In 2000, Griese led the NFL in passing, when he threw 19 touchdowns and four interceptions. Last year, he threw 19 interceptions.

"Does he have a lot to prove?" Denver coach Mike Shanahan asked. "Sure he does. All quarterbacks do. You're judged on your last game, and our last game wasn't very good."

Griese threw four interceptions in his final game of 2001, a 29-10 loss to the Colts. He was so-so in the preseason.

Remember all those people who wanted the Steelers to trade for Trent Green last year? He went to Kansas City instead, where he threw 24 interceptions to lead the NFL.

He has been right back at it this summer, tossing five picks to just one touchdown. And the Chiefs gave up a first-round draft pick to the Rams for this guy?

Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil explained that the Chiefs' preseason approach on offense won't be the one they take starting today in Cleveland.

"I'm concerned about it because I feel that our approach offensively has put too much pressure on our quarterback," Vermeil said. "You can become a victim of that approach."

Ford City's Gus Frerotte takes his road show to Cincinnati, where he has won the starting job. Excuse his opponent today, the San Diego Chargers, from wondering why Frerotte hasn't established a firm foothold somewhere.

The previous time he started a game, he passed for 462 yards and five touchdowns for Denver against the Chargers in 2000. No one has thrown more against San Diego.

"I'm very surprised that Gus Frerotte hasn't found a consistent home in the National Football League," Chargers strong safety Rodney Harrison said. "To me, he's a very good quarterback, a very good quarterback. He's calm. He's smart. He's poised in the pocket. I'm shocked. I thought he was a pretty good quarterback, and I still think he's a pretty good quarterback. It doesn't surprise me that he's the starting quarterback at all."

Dolphins' only shot?

The Steelers aren't the only ones who believe their window is open for the Super Bowl. Unlike the Steelers, though, the Miami Dolphins aren't sure their window will remain open for long.

"I hope it's not like Baltimore, but we could unload and lose a lot of guys after this year," Miami linebacker Zach Thomas said. "We're pretty much stacked right now, and you've got to take advantage of it. But we've got a lot of guys making big money -- especially on D -- and it's all going to catch up to you.

"We've all talked about it: This has got to be our year. But every team talks about that."

Quick slants

Here's the flip side to the Steelers-Patriots grand opening tomorrow night in New England: San Diego opens in Cincinnati today, pitting the teams with the fewest wins in the league over the past five seasons. The Chargers, who have missed the playoffs the past six seasons, are 23-57. The Bengals, who haven't made the playoffs in 11 seasons, are 24-56.

Houston opens with five rookies starting on offense: quarterback David Carr, wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, offensive linemen Chester Pitts and Fred Weary and fullback Jarrod Baxter.

Vote of confidence or kiss of death? Said Ravens coach Brian Billick: "We are committed to Chris Redman as any organization can be. Chris Redman is our quarterback." Redman had a passer rating of 55.9 in the preseason with no touchdowns and three interceptions.

Baltimore's one-year reign as one of the NFL's best defenses is long gone. The Ravens will switch to a 3-4 defense that has eight new starters. The only ones back are Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware and Chris McAlister.

Richard Huntley, who only two years ago was thought by some in the Steelers' organization as the replacement for Jerome Bettis, couldn't beat out Shawn Bryson or Sammy Morris before the Bills cut him last week.