Ten years ago, Jeff Backus was a freshman left tackle and Brian Griese was a senior quarterback at Michigan.
“I didn’t like him much as a teammate,” Backus said with a little smile. “He was tough on young guys.”
Sometimes Griese would call a play and then bark at Backus not to false start. But as Backus said, it was good. The Wolverines went 12-0 and won their first — and only — national title since 1948.
“He took control of that offense,” Backus said. “He knows what it takes to be a leader. Years after that, you understand why he does it.”
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Now Griese is taking control of the offense as the Bears limp to Detroit at 1-2 to take on Backus’ 2-1 Lions.
Griese hasn’t started a game since October 2005, when he was with Tampa Bay, where Lions coach Rod Marinelli and defensive coordinator Joe Barry were on the Buccaneers’ staff. He is known for shorter, accurate passes, and the Lions’ defense is designed to keep throws short.
But the Lions’ defense also is designed to make the opponent self-destruct, and Griese is thought to be much less likely to turn over the ball than Rex Grossman, who has thrown six picks in three games.
Asked what Griese would bring, Backus said: “Poise and intelligence and just a mature approach. He’s going to be able to manage the game. He’ll take what the defense gives him. He’s a smart player.”
It’s amazing Griese is here at all, considering where he was in 1996. He was stuck behind Scott Dreisbach on Michigan’s depth chart as a junior. Fluent in Spanish, dreaming of being an ambassador, he was going to travel in South America and get his master’s degree in public policy.
“I was going to go save the world,” Griese said in January before Super Bowl XLI in Miami. “Isn’t that everybody’s goal after they leave college?”
But Dreisbach got hurt against Ohio State. Griese led the Wolverines to victory over the Buckeyes, started the bowl and came back for his senior year.
He won a national title. He was part of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl XXXIII. He went to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season. He went back to the Super Bowl last year.
And now he’s a starter again.