Ryan Griffin Is Playing Safety
September 28th, 2022
Longtime Bucs No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 quarterback Ryan Griffin.
It’s one of those rare and somber days when even Joe is interested in reading about the Bucs’ practice squad quarterback.
He’s Ryan Griffin, the QB who never plays but is enjoying his eighth season in Tampa after two with the Saints.
Sports Illustrated penned a long feature on Griffin highlighting that he’s like a Bucs assistant coach who also learned a valuable lesson from ex-Bucs quarterback Shaun King.
Oh yeah, and Griffin plays defense now, too.
But after a decade in the league Griffin has learned how to make himself useful in other ways too. Brate recalls Griffin organizing walkthroughs for several former Bucs running backs who were struggling to grasp the playbook’s blitz protection packages, even tapping assistant coaches to stand in for the defense. More recently, as receiver Chris Godwin rehabbed a torn ACL suffered last winter, it was Griffin who woke up early to lend his arm for Godwin’s 6 a.m. workouts. “After practice he’s the first guy to stay and throw to people who want to run routes,” Brate says. “This year he’s even playing scout safety for us.”
Joe read this feature about what a phenomenal and useful teammates Griffin is, and Joe couldn’t help but think of Kyle Trask, the second-year Bucs quarterback.
Add Griffin to the list of phenomenal coaches and QB mentors around Trask, who is either a hidden gem or a career backup who has had a great education.
September 28th, 2022 at 8:55 am
Nice to hear. I’d rather read that Trask was the one (or also) staying late and waking up early to get added reps, but oh well. Not to say he isn’t, but I haven’t seen that he is.
September 28th, 2022 at 9:06 am
This is a great read, and I agree that I wouldn’t be shocked to see Griffin coaching some day once he calls it career, he’s still a relatively young guy tho
September 28th, 2022 at 9:21 am
Trask, if he studies hard, might earn the job as backup clipboard holder and 3rd string holder. If there’s a foot race between Trask and Brady, Brady wins.
Lamar Jackson in 2023.
September 28th, 2022 at 9:38 am
For the money Griff has made just to hang around.. he ought to mow the fields too…
September 28th, 2022 at 10:01 am
Nice story. Often wondered why Griff had been on the payroll so long. Seems like a high qualty person who supported his team any way he could! Good for him!
September 28th, 2022 at 10:07 am
That’s cool. I wonder who will be the Bucs QB in 2023…
September 28th, 2022 at 10:13 am
And why do so many Bucs fans rag on Trask. It’s not his fault the Bucs drafted him. The top qbs were off the board early on. He was an obvious “development” pic and at the very least a probable decent future backup for the Bucs. Every team needs a Trask type player if their starter goes down. By year 3 he could very well be a decent #2. Post Brady the Bucs will likely grab the best available free agent. But they will always need a decent #2 and development #3. So quit your bitching all you pot belly beer sucking couch potatoes! Eat shine and die. 🙂
September 28th, 2022 at 10:14 am
Who in their right mind thinks the Ravens won’t franchise tag Lamar for the next 2 seasons if they can’t get a deal signed. The Bucs will most likely have a void at QB next year. It’s either start Trask, trade for a good backup (Cooper Rush, Gardner Minnshew) or sign Jimmy G.
September 28th, 2022 at 10:23 am
Let’s not forget it was Griffin who escorted our fearless leader of the boat after he had a bit too much avocado tequila on the SB parade.
September 28th, 2022 at 10:32 am
Killian, they can franchise him, but they can’t make him play. At some point they’ll either pay him, or trade him for a kings ransom. He could very well demand trade his way out, but I doubt it comes to that. My guess is they pay him.
September 28th, 2022 at 10:38 am
If something happened to Brady, I would feel the least uncomfortable with Griff taking the wheel. He’s smart and obviously has his ego firmly under control. “Watch Daddy Sling It” Goobert would make us wish for the return of JaMiss. Trask would make us wish for the return of Mike GlenNonQB.
God forbid anything happens to Tom. The result would be devastating.
September 28th, 2022 at 11:20 am
That’s what “teammates” do.
September 28th, 2022 at 11:27 am
Griffin would make a better NFL safety than QB anyway. Keep him around, we may need him if the injury bug hits the secondary.
September 28th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
4th string quarterback is a good gig if you can get it
Limited chance of concussions and other injuries because you will never play
Get the best seat in the house and make $ 200,000 salary and if the team wins some playoff games get a chance for more bonus money
If the player is respected may eventually evolve into an assistant coaching job
September 28th, 2022 at 12:18 pm
I’m glad you wrote this article, Joe. It gave us a bit of insight.
September 28th, 2022 at 1:19 pm
“Lamar Jackson in 2023.”
Now there’s an idea! Can the Ravens franchise him, though?
September 28th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
Great article Joe. So very impressed with Griffin the assistant coach!
September 28th, 2022 at 4:48 pm
If our reserve QB can play back-up safety, then Shirley our punter with 4.5 speed can play back-up gunner on the punt team?
Coach: Kick it real far, then run real fast and smash the guy who catches your punt.
Punter: Roger that, Coach
(All sarcasm, guys, relax…)
September 28th, 2022 at 8:47 pm
Tom Brady’s kickstand.
I like the guy, but give him a job as an assistant coach and put someone else on the roster who has the potential of actually playing.