Can Stafford learn anything from Greene?
This is an exhibition. David Greene never played in a real game.
( UPDATE: New Greene-Stafford column now posted. Here’s the link: http://tinyurl.com/ldjg6u But feel free to read the warmup too. I get residuals. Kidding.)
ATHENS — COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!
Sorry. Cheap page view trick.
Also, it’s a little bit of a lie. I’m actually sitting in the Five Points Deli in Athens right now and soon will head out to the Georgia golf course to catch some players as they finish their 18 holes. You’ve probably heard of a few: David Greene, Matt Stinchcomb, Jon Stinchcomb. A bunch of former Bulldogs are in town for the fourth annual “Countdown to Kickoff,” a fanfest that takes place Saturday on the practice fields. The benefit event kicked off Friday with a golf tournament.
Why am I here? It’s not to talk to Greene about his chipping. Rather, with the start of NFL training camps only two weeks away, I wanted to get his perspective on Matthew Stafford. Greene didn’t have nearly the physical attributes of Stafford when he left Georgia for the NFL after the 2004 season. But he was pretty good. Fact is, he was one of the best quarterbacks Georgia or a college program has ever seen. He broke Peyton Manning’s NCAA Division I record for wins (42) and threw for an SEC record 11,528 yards (327 more than Manning).
Was Greene the first overall pick in the draft like Stafford? No. But he was taken high enough in the draft (third round) and by one of the NFL’s top quarterback coaches (Mike Holmgren) to suggest that he had an NFL career ahead of him. But that didn’t happen. He spent two seasons with the Seahawks, briefly passed through New England, Kansas City and Indianapolis, and the former South Gwinnett High School star is now back home in Georgia selling insurance.
He never played in an NFL regular season game.
What happened?
How much different is the NFL from college football?
What should Stafford be prepared for?
I hope to have the column posted later tonight, and it will run in Sunday’s paper (That’s the hard copy. You can find it on newstands. Also, the occasional front lawn. If you need some quarters, let me know. You get grocery coupons, too!)
Let me know if there’s anything you’d like addressed.
Thanks, back later.
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57 comments Add your comment
reservoirDAWG
July 17th, 2009
3:24 pm
Looking forward to it Jeff.
Supes
July 17th, 2009
3:46 pm
Jeff, I’m very much looking forward to what David Greene will say. It’s a shame he is out of the NFL right now.
Otto
July 17th, 2009
3:46 pm
Isn’t it a little late for Stafford to learn from Greene?
BruffDawg
July 17th, 2009
3:52 pm
Crying shame he never got his shot. Love you to death Greene. DGD.
John
July 17th, 2009
3:54 pm
I was surprised that Greene didn’t find at least some success in the NFL, but he was very successful at the college level. He’ll always be one of my favorite Dawgs.
ff
July 17th, 2009
4:10 pm
i always wondered what happened to Greene. I know getting stuck behind Hasselbeck in Seattle wasn’t a great career move. Still, i would think that he would get a chance to throw a NFL pass somewhere. New England, definitely not, Kansas City, why not?
traderdawg
July 17th, 2009
4:20 pm
I would rather Joe Cox learn something from Greene…
Rabun Dawg
July 17th, 2009
4:25 pm
Trader, 2nd that suggestion!
SimpleDawg
July 17th, 2009
4:46 pm
If we could combine Greenie’s demeanor and intelligence with Stafford’s arm, we’d have the best QB to ever play the game. Unfortunately the NFL tends to expose every weakness.
jimmy
July 17th, 2009
4:49 pm
ihope somebody listen’s to trader dog
Maxwell Snark
July 17th, 2009
4:52 pm
Can’t get the Sunday AJC up here in northwest Georgia. Dang, I hate the recession.
Bubba Ajhmadeni
July 17th, 2009
4:54 pm
What’d be really funny is if you went all that way and he refused to talk to you. Oh man, what a riot. Wait, I want to read what he’d have to say. Scratch that first part.
Huh?
July 17th, 2009
5:02 pm
Yet still I hear the ESPN types continue to refer to Peyton Manning as the SEC’s All Time Leading Passer. I heard it as recently as a couple of months ago when Manning was interviewed on College Football Live. If you’re going to be the worldwide leader in sports it would help to get your damn facts straight. What a joke.
Ben
July 17th, 2009
5:10 pm
I think Greene wasn’t able to physically perform at the speed the NFL game required. He was a heck of a leader, and he certainly got it done for the Dawgs, but he didn’t have the arm or strength to succeed and I’m glad he’s came to terms with him being tired of the game. He’ll get free meals everywhere in Georgia for the rest of his life, and can help mentor some of the younger kids. Heck, we might even see him on the sidelines with a headset on after not too long. DGD.
Spanky
July 17th, 2009
5:14 pm
The only think Greene can teach him is the correct way to hold a clipboard.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 17th, 2009
5:22 pm
Spanky, it is not just how to hold that CLIPBOARD, but where to put your helmet on the BENCH to save your seat.
Spanky
July 17th, 2009
5:25 pm
you are correct. Maybe Shockley can show him how to do that.
The Dogfighter Returns
July 17th, 2009
5:34 pm
Jeff you are such a douche. David Green? Are you serious? How about the falcon’s QB? Are you sure you majored in journalism? Dude you need to stop stealing paychecks. You are a disgrace to this town and your profession.
Get your act together or accept the buy out package.
Whopper Dawg
July 17th, 2009
5:47 pm
Difference – Arm.
Douglas
July 17th, 2009
6:01 pm
As much as I like David Green, he never seemed the same after the game with LSU in which they sacked him quiet a few times. If you don’t believe me, go back and review the games after the LSU game — he didn’t throw the ball as deep as often as he used to — instead, he seemed to just throw the ball to the sideline on shorter routes. Still a great QB at UGA but he did appear somewhat timid after that LSU game.
He Hate Me
July 17th, 2009
6:07 pm
Funny I can’t think of any former Tech QB’s that even played or got drafted in the NFL.The trend will continue…believe me.
Paddy
July 17th, 2009
6:19 pm
Buffdawg… Greene got a shot he just could not convince the coaches of all those teams to use him. Happens all the time. Love the guy. I to would have like to see him in at least 1 NFL game. He just didn’t have it. He will always be a fan favorite.
MiltonDawg
July 17th, 2009
6:49 pm
He must’ve just lost something during the transistion. Would’ve loved to see him play a pro-game. With all the issues in KC during the past few years, he could’ve easily started a game for them. Look at Graham Herrell who went to the CFL now.
GW
July 17th, 2009
6:52 pm
Douglas, Greene got sacked by LSU 7-8 times in 2003, his junior year. He was playing with a gimpy knee that was heavily wrapped that day. The young OLine was exposed that day by the LSU blitz. Georgia missed 3 FGs and lost 17-10. Among other great comeback days was the 2004 thrashing of LSU where Greene completed at least 2 long TD passes and his return to the Tech game after a broken finger. I wasn’t there but I wonder how interested Holmgren really was in developing another QB at that point in his career. The NFL is hard to figure sometimes.Circumstances often dictate more than ability.
MVP
July 17th, 2009
6:54 pm
Yes Greene can help Stafford by showing Stafford how to die on the bench just like Greene.
Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2009
7:09 pm
Just got back home. Greene was great. On his own career, he basically affirmed that he could’ve stayed in football and had an offer from the Giants but decided basically “the writing was on the wall” as far as his career goes. Also has an 18 month year old at home and didn’t want to move around any more. Misses football but not enough to play… He said moving to NFL definitely will be an eye opener for Stafford. He had some good stuff that I’ll write. When I asked him about Matt Ryan, he laughed and said, “He throws off the curve.”
FRED
July 17th, 2009
7:14 pm
was never sure that green had the arm strength for the NFL
Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2009
7:14 pm
Trader: Greene will have to be Cox’s model since he obviously doesn’t have Stafford’s arm.
Maxwell Snark – I’ll drive you a copy.
Dogfighter – There’s a cleanup in aisle 7. Better get back to work.
Huh – Really? That’s hilarious. I guess in perception you would think it’s Manning but it ain’t so.
JS
BruffDawg
July 17th, 2009
7:54 pm
Greene made the right decision for his family. I usually disagree with you jeff but this is a nice article. Thanks for the info on Greene’s family, that explains why he is back home. He was a great qb to watch and a class act all the way. He was the only player i had class with that attended all of them. Best of luck to Greene in the future. Jeff, thanks for the info on one of my all time favorite dawgs.
GTDog
July 17th, 2009
8:12 pm
Gotta LUV it…P-ONADAWG! I see it now:
5:00PM Friday, the boss leaves the used car lot.
5:01PM P-DAWG opens the bottle and throws down the first swig to ease the shakes
5:05-5:22PM P-DAWG shakes his way through 1 last imbecilic shot at UGA before hitting the bar
…wondering if the bar has wifi/ I think we will soon find out!
Only two statements
July 17th, 2009
8:41 pm
Jeff, per the last statement in the blog: Yes, do you have the address of Marisa Miller?
Dogfighter: Get back in the truck and head back over, you missed the recycling at this mornings’ pickup.
Sonny Clusters
July 17th, 2009
9:21 pm
We was wanting to talk some baseball what with a SRO crowd at the Ted watching Jeff take on the Braves. Guess we’ll check in later and see if there’s any baseball on here. We used to talk baseball all the time back when we was playing ball together. I read that DOB blog for awhile but almost none of those folks can write or spell worth anything and the bloggers dont either.
Douglas
July 17th, 2009
9:54 pm
GW: yeah, Greene played a great game against LSU but how many other great games did he play his senior year? He threw great passes during the LSU game but Reggie Brown and others also made some great catches. Why don’t you go back and watch the games his Sr. Year and see how many times he even tried to go deep…it was not very many times.
dan
July 17th, 2009
10:03 pm
I think Richt should give Greene a shot to be on his staff. I always felt Greene would be a great coach. He had a coach demeanor on the field. I agree in that I think Joe Cox would learn more from Greene than Stafford would. Joe kind of reminded me of Greene in 2006 with that come from behind win over Colorado. Yeah Colorado sucked, but that offense was struggling and needed guidance in that game, and Joe came in there and got the job done. As a former football player, I can’t tell you how important it is to play with a QB that has confidence. It can’t be underestimated. There was always that feeling with Greene that if it were a close game, he’d find a way to win it. I miss that mentality. Hopefully it will return to Athens this fall.
ButlerDawg
July 17th, 2009
10:35 pm
Hey Jeff, remember this jingle: “Nobody cares for eyes more than Pearle”
Chris
July 17th, 2009
10:55 pm
Dan is right.
What ‘advice’ could Greene give Stafford about actually playing in the NFL? I would think that’s a question more suited to what advice someone like Matt Ryan could offer Stafford. It’s a silly premise.
The quarterback’s first job is to execute the offense and Greene was an excellent field general. Greene giving advice to Joe Cox would be a great deal more pertinent I would think.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 17th, 2009
11:24 pm
GTDAWG I am 4/5th into the BOTTLE and I still can’t see a good UGA QB in the NFL other than FRAN THE MAN. Hick-up. I mean Mark Richt was a clipboard holder for Jim Kelly at Missing In Action CAINS in coledge rigit? Danz I z can’t get the jack in da athma letic suppizor forez a shotz. David Greene was and is the BEAT QB to ever step on the Septic Tank of the South Field and what did that get him? Zier and Green are better coaches than BOBO ever dreamed of being. Bobo and Richt sucked as players and as Coaches. BOBO is the Pat Nix of UGA and Richt is the B. Cowert of UGA.
hop
July 17th, 2009
11:29 pm
david greene was a very limited qb who played with georgia teams that were loaded with talent.
his limited ability was exposed in the nfl when he could not catch on with a number of nfl teams that give him a shot.
i do not think david was surprised at the outcome of his nfl career.
maybe,stafford should call fran tarkenton who was voted in the top fifty players to ever play in the league.
he also played 17 years as an nfl qb who held many of the passing records in the nfl and is in the nfl hall of fame.
RealDealDawg
July 17th, 2009
11:47 pm
I have a tremendous amount of reverence for Greene and what he accomplished at UGA. He is easily one of the most successful and accomplished college QB of all tiem. The guy had the most poise, confidence, and leadership that I’ve ever seen from a QB at UGA since I’ve been watching for the last quarter of a decade. That being said, Greene was well below average talent wise when it comes to NFL QB’s. The fact of the matter is, Greene was Richt’s best coaching job ever. The fact that Greene was able to achieve those stats and records and was able to be drafted in the third round of the NFL draft (when he honestly didn’t have the pure talent to even be a legit NFL QB) is a testament to Richt’s ability as QB mentor and professor. I wish nothing but the utmost success in life to Greene going forward, but leaving the NFL was an inevitable outcome and wise choice for him to make. I’m just glad that he was able to cash in a bit with that third round signing bonus and money he made for a few years. He’s a smart enough kid to make that work for him for a long time, unlike these brain dead idiots that make 20 times the amount he did and go broke in 10 years.
GTDog
July 17th, 2009
11:50 pm
Your killing me PDOG! I’ll bet that when you pass out tonight (alone as always), you’ll have fantastic dreams of throwing the winning TD pass in the Super Bowl!
Whoops, you must’ve had a quick black-out there P, we’re talking about David Greene, not Zeir and Bobo. Are you back with me yet tiger? Hello? P? Hello?
GTDog
July 17th, 2009
11:55 pm
You know, as we talk about how badly the UGA coaching staff developes their players…the fact is that every established QB starter during the Ridht era has been drafted and made a roster in the NFL. Prior to Richt, whom did we have go pro as a QB? Zeir….who was the one before him, Johnson or Goff?
Just a thought…
toccoa
July 17th, 2009
11:56 pm
Uncoachable.Like a young Anakin skywalker that would never listen to Obi.
DogsLickDawgs
July 18th, 2009
12:14 am
Buck Blew-who? was a great baseball player that never played a game that ment anything other than handing to FOOTBALL off to Walker and Praying Scott made the catch. So yo ar right what QB at UGA did a thing? Well, richt got them some money and that is great but like most NFL jokes the UGA QBs will be on the radio selling cars and pizza.
DogsLickDawgs
July 18th, 2009
12:17 am
GeezTeez do you have some COCA-COLA to abid to me Jackzz? I b drunb.
Jeff Schultz
July 18th, 2009
12:52 am
If you guys want to move this Georgia/Tech debate over to the column, it’s posted now. Just try to keep clean, OK?
The link: http://tinyurl.com/ldjg6u
true fan
July 18th, 2009
2:06 am
how many QB’s has Tech had in the League??? Yeah that’s what I thought. even the best QB in Tech’s history went undrafted and then was picked up by the vikings as a safety, then played one game. POAD your an idiot, you want to dog MR getting beat out by one of the Best College and NFL QB’s of all time? Sounds like a true dumba$$.
Old Dawg
July 18th, 2009
7:30 am
DogsLick: I would normally agree to you on the Buck Belue statement but his senior year he led a really amazing drive against Florida to win the game. True, he had Herschel to make play-action passes more effective and Herschel made some bone crunching runs. Belue’s performance in that game led several pro scouts to look at his overall playing ability and he did sign with Jacksonville of the USFL for one season.
As for Greene’s career, it’s a real shame he didn’t make it as a pro. It always amazes me who does and doesn’t make it as an NFL QB. I’ve been a fan of the game for 40 years now and the only rationale I have developed is that it’s a crap shoot.
On your other comments, you REALLY need to get into group counseling. Just remember that everyone’s comments should be accepted with dignity and class … something you know little about.
Exley DAWG
July 18th, 2009
8:35 am
One of the GREATEST leaders UGA has ever had on the field. This is something that Stafford lacked IMO. Couldn’t throw the frozen rope but had incredible touch and a great O-line. Dang, that sort of sounds like Joe Cox and this years O-line.
Mark Richt
July 18th, 2009
9:59 am
Greene taught Stafford how to spoon….
michael
July 18th, 2009
11:03 am
all stafford has to do is throw it high and CALVIN JOHNSON (ah hem a TECHIE) will catch it. Hey if stafford falls, the lions still have the BALL, get it reggie??