Stumping for Griese Is a Slippery Slope

Brian Griese’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, recently used his weekly spot on a Miami TV show to predict that his client would beat out Dolphin starter Jay Fiedler by midseason.

“That’s not sports reporting,� Miami Coach Dave Wannstedt told the Boston Globe. “Let’s be honest. That’s ‘Entertainment Tonight.’ I hope our players and fans consider the source whenever anything is said by him on that station. It’s comical.�

Rosenhaus and Griese -- a Pro Bowl selection three years ago who has struggled the last two seasons, throwing 38 touchdown passes and 34 interceptions -- probably weren’t laughing when they read Bill Parcells’ comments in New York Newsday.

Asked why he hadn’t pursued Griese, the new Dallas coach said, “Get me somebody that can win. I don’t mean that disrespectfully, but I don’t want to be 8-8. I had that guy Neil O’Donnell [with the Jets]. That’s what [Griese] is.�

Trivia time: Who was the first NFL coach to win three Super Bowls with fewer than 100 regular-season victories?

Boom boon: Veterans Stadium seats -- the actual seats, not tickets for them -- are on sale to the public in Philadelphia. The seats, sold in pairs, cost $280. Season-ticket holders have already snapped up more than 5,000 of them. Many other items, including equipment used in games, also will be sold off.

But John Nash, the former general manager of the 76ers and New Jersey Nets who is overseeing the Vet memorabilia sale, doesn’t think the profits will come close to the $10-12 million it will cost to blow the place up.

A survivor? One piece of the Vet that may escape the dynamite is a concrete wall near a maintenance shed.

The wall, signed by Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver, Tim McCarver, Jim Kaat and many others, could end up at the Phillies’ new ballpark or at their new training facility in Clearwater, Fla.

Cell outs: So NASCAR has decided to stop smoking. But with Nextel replacing Winston as the main sponsor of the stock-car racing circuit, will drivers now be asked to prove it’s really safe to talk on the cell phone while driving at high speed?

And will fans be thrilled to know that supporting their favorite sport’s sponsor still involves certain health risks?

Slump, schlump: Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post has heard enough about Tiger Woods’ supposed decline and wants to provide some perspective.

“If my math is right, Tiger has three mansions, a couple of seven-car garages and a blond swimsuit model for a girlfriend. Yep, he’s in a slump, all right.

“I can’t break 85, the Subaru needs a brake job, and my wife is on my case to lose a few pounds.�

24-hour sequins: Are you ready for nonstop triple lutz-triple toe loop combinations? The Ice Channel, which plans to launch next year, is coming to a cable provider near you with “unprecedented� coverage of figure skating.

Trivia answer: Bill Walsh.

And finally: Steve Rosenbloom in the Chicago Tribune: “The Bears have hired a yoga instructor as part of their off-season conditioning program.... About time they learned a position besides prone.�