Dolphins quarterback school ends without a Griese sighting

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- Quarterback Brian Griese and the Miami Dolphins remained at an impasse in contract negotiations Thursday, as the team's three-day quarterback school ended without an appearance

Thursday, June 5th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- Quarterback Brian Griese and the Miami Dolphins remained at an impasse in contract negotiations Thursday, as the team's three-day quarterback school ended without an appearance from the free agent cut this week by Denver.

Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said Thursday there was nothing new to report on the negotiations.

"I'm optimistic," Wannstedt said. "We've just got to work through a couple of these issues and I believe we will."

Griese, a Miami native whose father, Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese, won two Super Bowls with the Dolphins in the 1970s, has been in contract talks with the team since being released Monday by the Broncos. Miami is seeking a backup to starter Jay Fiedler; the Dolphins released last year's backup, Ray Lucas, in April.

Miami hoped to strike a deal with Griese before the end of this week's quarterback school. No other formal on-field workouts are scheduled until June 16, when the team holds another three-day quarterback school. Training camp doesn't start until July.

"People forget that we don't have to sign right away," Griese's agent, Ralph Cindrich, said. "There's nothing that says we have to sign now. We can wait until training camp if we want. Brian wants to play ... but he knows the business side."

The Dolphins currently have four quarterbacks on the roster: Fiedler, Sage Rosenfels, and rookies Josh Blankenship and Lon Sheriff, all of whom took part in this week's drills.

If another quarterback is signed, one of the rookies will likely be cut before the start of training camp, Wannstedt said.

"I don't think we'll go in with five," Wannstedt said.