SaberCats' Grieb ready for another big season under center
January 27, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2004) â San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb spent the recent off-season making additions to his house (one room) and family (one wife, two daughters), but more importantly to SaberCats' fans, he spent the summer and fall adding to his health.
Despite setting team records for completions (310), yards (3,966) and touchdowns (72) in 2003, the SaberCats' all-time leader in every passing category never really felt right last year following a season-ending clavicle injury late in the 2002 season.
"Toward the end of the season, I thought I felt pretty good," the six-year AFL veteran explained. "I never really felt 100 percent. If you feel sort of off at the beginning of the season, it's hard to get it back by the end of the season. I don't make any excuses. Last year was what it was and hopefully this year will be better."
A better season in 2004 is certainly within reach given Grieb's accurate arm and the wealth of talented receivers at his disposal. Grieb has always recognized what having record-setting teammates like James Hundon, James Roe and Barry Wagner by his side has done for his development as a quarterback.
"I think I'm smart enough to realize that as a quarterback, you're only as good as the guys you play with," Grieb said. "I'm lucky to have the best receivers in the league â there's no question. Even the guys coming off the bench are better than the starters on some other teams."
Now entering his sixth season with the SaberCats, Grieb has built relationships on and off the field with his teammates that in no small way have helped San Jose achieve a four-year run of success â 47 regular season wins, four Division Championships and an ArenaBowl XVI title in 2002 â that is unmatched in Arena Football.
"I'm just fortunate to be around these guys â not even just skill-wise, but there are good guys on this team," Grieb said. "You don't really always know how a team is going to come together until the season starts, and even then you don't know because something can happen along the way. You just hope you've brought in the right kind of guys and we have. We've had those kind of guys in here the past four years and it's only getting better."
If the past four years are any indication, âbetter' for Mark Grieb could mean another ArenaBowl Championship for the San Jose SaberCats.
Celebrating their 10th Anniversary, the San Jose SaberCats kickoff the 2004 season on the road February 5th against the Detroit Fury. The home opener is scheduled for February 28th vs. the Grand Rapids Rampage at HP Pavilion. Individual tickets are available for all SaberCats' home games at all TicketMaster outlets, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or in-person at the HP Pavilion Box Office in San Jose (M-F 9:30am-6:30pm). For season- or group ticket information, contact the SaberCats at (408) 573-5577, or on-line at www.sanjosesabercats.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 27, 2004
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