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Broncos release Brian Griese

DENVER, June 2 (UPI) -- As speculated, the Denver Broncos Monday released veteran quarterback Brian Griese, which opens the door for expected signing with the Miami Dolphins.

Miami has long been rumored as the team most likely to sign Griese, whose father flourished with the Dolphins in the same position. After signing quarterback Jake Plummer to a seven-year, $40 million contract, the Broncos have tried to trade Griese, but had no takers because of his huge contract.

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By releasing him after June 1, the Broncos will save $6.3 million in salary cap space over the next two years, $4.9 million in 2003 and $1.4 million in 2004.

"Sometimes a situation just doesn't work out," said Coach Mike Shanahan. "It doesn't mean that Brian won't go and have a great future. I think he will. Even through it didn't work out for Brian here, I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to another organization with what he's learned, and what type of guy he is and has a lot of success. It just wasn't the right time (here). It didn't work out. We had to move in another direction. I think it's best for him and best for us."

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The Dolphins are expected to swoop in and sign the son of Hall of Famer Bob Griese, the team's starting quarterback in three straight Super Bowls in the early 1970s.

At first, it appeared the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, and Dallas Cowboys would bid for Brian Griese, who was bestowed with a six-year, $33 million contract after the 2000 season, but the Bears gave a two-year, $5 million deal to Kordell Stewart, who lost his starting job in Pittsburgh, and the Ravens traded a second-round pick in April and a first-round pick in 2004 for the right to select California quarterback Kyle Boller.

The Cowboys showed some interest in Jake Delhomme, who signed with Carolina, but failed to even draft a quarterback. It appears new coach Bill Parcells is ready to head into training camp with incumbents Chad Hutchinson and Quincy Carter.

That paves the way for Brian Griese to settle in at Miami behind starter Jay Fiedler, who has been beset by injuries the past two seasons. The Dolphins already have released backup quarterback Ray Lucas.

"It's definitely an option," Griese told the Rocky Mountain News about the possibility of being with the Dolphins. "They have a great team down there and I think they're going to be a contender, but I have to weigh my different options."

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The successor to the legendary John Elway, who retired following the 1998 season, Griese, 28, never won over either his teammates or the coaching staff in Denver.

He started 51 games the past four seasons, his most prolific year being in 2000, when he earned Pro Bowl honors after throwing for 2,688 yards and 23 touchdowns with four interceptions.

Denver made the playoffs in 2000, but Griese played just the first 10 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

Last season, he started 13 games, passing for 3,214 yards, 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He missed two games with a knee injury, and Coach Mike Shanahan chose to start veteran Steve Beuerlein in another.

"I gave everything that I had for the guys that were playing next to me," Griese told the paper. "It didn't work out the way I wanted it to or the way they wanted it to. I'm going to be leaving, but I have nothing but the best wishes for those guys and the team and coaching staff. Really, it's a new chapter in my life, and a fresh start for them as well."

Griese was one of several big name players to be released Monday.

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As expected, the Cincinnati Bengals released quarterback Akili Smith, their No. 1 pick in the 1999 draft, who never lived up to his billing and became expendable with the choice of Carson Palmer in this year's draft.

Also, San Francisco parted company with veteran wide receiver J.J. Stokes and defensive end Junior Bryant, the Kansas City Chiefs waived cornerback Ray Crockett, and the New York Giants released center Dusty Zeigler, who had failed his physical.

Zeigler, 29, started every game at center for the Giants in 2000 and 2001, but played in just two games last season following knee surgery.

"I don't have any hard feelings," Zeigler said at the team's minicamp on Monday. "I'm unable to do the things needed to play football at this point in time. I have an outside chance to play football again, (but) I wouldn't anticipate it being this year."

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