Griese Leaves Hospital Critical of Self

By BILL BRAUCHER Herald Sports Writer

“I feel fine, just fine,” said Bob Griese, provoked at himself Monday for getting conked on the head by the elbow of massive Buck Buchanan.

“I never saw him,” added the rookie quarterback, fidgeting restlessly in Mercy Hospital before his release Monday afternoon.

Griese is expected on the practice field today at Miami Stadium and at quarterback Sunday in Shea Stadium against Joe Namath and the New York Jets.

“I know he didn't see me,” said Buchanan, chuckling over the phone from Kansas City, “I’m glad to know the boy's all right.”

“He did a great job under the circumstances. The Dolphins weren't reading us very well and we were all over the kid, more or less. I was surprised at his coolness. He ought to give the Dolphins solid quarterbacking for a long time.”

Coming from the 6-7, 287-pound defensive tackle, this is praise from Caesar. Nor do Buchanan's remarks necessarily slander the Dolphins' blockers, for even the Green Bay Packers could not handle Buchanan in the Super Bowl.

Winners, on the other hand, are usually generous with praise for losers.

Griese was in that vanquished mood Monday while submitting to an electro-encephalogram and other cranium tests before Dr. Herbert Virgin, the Dolphin ultra-careful physician, would spring him from the hospital.

“They were doing a lot of stunting and shifting, but I could have done a better job,” said the 22-year-old perfectionist whom Coach George Wilson calls “The Scholar.”

“Next time I'm sure we'll profit by what we learned Sunday.” Griese added. “I thought with a break here and there we could have handled them. As it was, we were in the ball game as long as I can remember.”

The score was 14-0 when Griese was dispatched to dream street by Buchanan, whose path to the backfield was made easier by red-dogging linebackers Bobby Bell and E. J. Holub, on the second play of the fourth quarter.

Buchanan gave Griese an opportunity to visit briefly with John Stofa, who preceded him to Mercy by a week Stofa also went home Monday.

“I feel better,” John said. “The ankle still gives me some pain, but it's much better. It's good to be home.”

Stofa will convalesce about six weeks before testing the ankle fractured by a Denver red-dog in the season opener.

Archie Roberts, meanwhile, arrived Monday to alleviate the fragile quarterback situation. Roberts, who had been the property of the Cleveland Browns, will work out behind Griese and Rick Norton and must be activated under the conditions of his contract

“We’ll wait a day or two to see who to drop to make room for Roberts,” said Wilson. “I want to find out how badly some of these people were hurt Sunday.”

The casualties include tackle Maxie Williams (bruised thigh), defensive tackle John Richardson (bruised ankle), defensive end Ed Cooke (pulled leg muscle), linebacker Frank Emanuel (bruised side) and linebacker Jerry Hopkins, who was shaken up toward the end of the game.