PASADENA, Calif. -- Don Strock is pro football's answer to Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage -- the star relief pitcher. The big difference, however, is that Strock normally isn't called on to hold a lead but rather to produce one.
Strock, a 10-year-veteran, has made a career of being a backup. He broke in with the Miami Dolphins as a backup to Bob Griese and when Griese began having problems with his vision three years ago, it was assumed that the strong-armed 6-foot-5 Strock was next in line.
But along came young David Woodley to add a new dimension to Miami's attack with his running ability and Strock again was relegated to the sidelines.
But Miami's quarterbacking situation has taken some odd turns in the past few seasons, with Strock often being called upon to bail out the Dolphins in the second half. Miami's starting quarterback has been jokingly referred to as 'Wood-strock'.
With the Dolphins set to face Washington Sunday in the Super Bowl, Strock again will be in his familiar position along the sidelines, dressed in a warmup jacket and carrying his clipboard. Woodley has performed well in the playoffs, except for some problems in the rain-marred AFC title victory against the Jets last week, and Strock has simply watched.
'Naturally I'd like to play -- it's every player's dream to play in the Super Bowl,' Strock said. 'But if everything goes according to plan, I'll be on the sidelines in my green jacket and when it's all over, I'll have a Super Bowl ring.'
Strock says he is always ready for the call from Coach Don Shula.
'I can never tell when I'm going in,' he said. 'I've been sent in in every conceivable situation in the past 10 years. He's sent me in at halftime, when we were behind, when we were leading. You never know when he wants you. I stay busy on the sidelines with the charts, helping with substitutions. I have a lot to do. I just don't stand there.'
There are times when it appeared that Strock would finally assume the No. 1 quarterback role with the Dolphins but he always seems to wind up back on the bench. Last year in the playoffs against San Diego, the Dolphins fell behind 24-0. On came Strock and late in the fourth period, Miami was ahead 27-24. San Diego managed to tie the game and win in overtime.
'San Diego was a great game but we still lost and the bottom line is winning,' Strock said. 'But who's No. 1 and who's No. 2 is not important as far as I'm concerned. I'm just interested in winning and getting the ring.
'David and I have a good working relationship. We stay in contact all the time. We're always talking on the sidelines, trying to take advantage of people or certain situations.'
Strock has played out his option for the third time and says he'll decide after Feb. 1 whether he'll return to Miami again or look for greener pastures. He says a career as a No. 2 quarterbck hasn't soured him on the game.
'Let me just say that I don't look at myself as just a backup quarterback,' he said. 'I don't think a lot of backup quarterbacks in this league would get thrown into the situations I'm put into. I've been around and I enjoy being in pressure situations. A lot of backup quarterbacks aren't too eager for that kind of pressure.
'I'm very aware of what my limitations are. I try to get things done in my own fashion. Let's face it -- in some of the situations I'm put into, if we win more than 50 per cent of the time, we have to consider ourselves successful.
'Right now I'm totally into every game and every practice. When that stops happening, I'll get out. Nobody has to push me to keep my interest.'
