DENVER — 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 healthy.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Steve Beuerlein will start Sunday as Denver clings to slim playoff hopes. 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've had a chance to win the AFC West had they beaten the Raiders, but fell behind 21-0 after Griese threw two interceptions 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 in his place, leading the Broncos to 16 points before the Raiders pulled away.
Griese is 27-24 as a starter since taking over for John Elway in 1999, and the Broncos have reached the playoffs just once. He went to the Pro Bowl in 2000 after throwing for 21 touchdowns and just four interceptions — the second-best ratio in league history — but followed with 19 interceptions last year.
This season, Griese has thrown for 3,214 yards and 15 touchdowns, but he's also thrown 15 interceptions and has made some key mistakes late in several games. He nearly got benched in Denver's opener against St. Louis, and had a crucial interception late in a loss to the New York Jets on Dec. 8.
CHIEFS' HOLMES RULED OUT
Priest Holmes is out for Kansas City's regular-season finale against Oakland on Saturday.
Holmes, who is just two touchdowns away from the NFL single-season record of 26, injured his hip at Denver on Dec. 15. He missed last week's game against San Diego.
The 2001 NFL rushing champion was leading the league with a team-record 1,615 yards rushing when he was hurt at Denver. Holmes' 2,287 yards from scrimmage this year is 142 shy of the NFL record.
CAMPO WANTS 1,000 FOR EMMITT
Football is a team game and individual accomplishments aren't supposed to matter. Yet in what could be his last game as coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Dave Campo would really like to see Emmitt Smith notch one more milestone.
Smith goes into the finale Sunday at Washington needing 38 yards rushing to reach 1,000 yards for the 12th straight year, which would stretch the record he set last season. Barry Sanders did it 10 straight years; Walter Payton had 10, too, but they weren't consecutive.
"I'd like him to get it, I'll be up front about it," Campo said. "He fought his way to 1,000 a year ago, and I'd like to see him get 1,000 again. I think he deserves it.
"We're still going to try to win the football game. But that would be a goal for me personally to help him get that."
This weekend's game could be the last time Smith and Campo are employed by the Cowboys. Team owner Jerry Jones is considering firing Campo and releasing Smith. If Smith is back next season, he'll have to take a huge paycut from the $7 million he's due.
EXTRA POINTS
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 this week because of a severe lower back bruise. … The Green Bay Packers signed veteran kick returner Eric Metcalf and tackle Jeff Blackshear as free agents. Metcalf, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was out of football this season after serving as the Washington Redskins' punt returner in 2001. He holds the NFL's all-time record for most career punt-return touchdowns, with 10.
