Brian Griese can relate to what Sam Darnold will go through on Monday night in Detroit. His first NFL start also was a Monday nighter, in 1999, for the two-time defending champion Broncos against Dan Marino's Dolphins.
“It’s not the easiest thing in the world to make your first start in the NFL, let alone on Monday night,” Griese said Wednesday on a conference call to promote ESPN’s coverage of the Jets-Lions game.
But Griese — who will be making his debut as a national NFL TV analyst — has little doubt the Jets’ rookie quarterback can rise to the occasion after working three of his games at USC and observing him as a player and person.