| Howard Griffith |
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Howard Griffith “The Human Plow” was born on November 17, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. After attending Illinois for his college football, Griffith was drafted in round 9, pick 236 of the 1991 NFL Draft. After two seasons of not making the team, he finally cracked the final roster for the Los Angeles Rams in 1993.
Howard Griffith Gets Broncos’ AttentionAfter playing in Carolina and helping the Panthers to the NFC Championship Game following the 1996 season, Howard Griffith became a free agent. He ended up signing with the Denver Broncos. “I have a responsibility. When you come in with free agency to a team and all these great things are being written about you, you feel the pressure from yourself to go out and do it.” - Howard Griffith (1) 1997 AFC Championship GameDuring the regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers had dominated the Denver Broncos. Howard Griffith was flattened by Lavon Kirkland in that game. Things would be different in the AFC Championship Game. With 1:54 left in the game, Griffith came up with a spectacular catch. Rolling to his left, he caught a wayward John Elway pass with his right hand, pulled it in and rambled a few yards before diving into the corner of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown that severely rattled the Steelers, who never regained the lead. “I turned and saw the ball right away,” Howard Griffith said. “It was thrown a little behind me, but I was able to make the play on it. They don't call my number a lot to catch. My job is to go out and block. But we had to score there. We're playing in a very hostile place, so we had to score. I'm just playing as hard as I can. Like I said, there were some negative things said about me this week, that I couldn't get it done. They said I can't block, I can't do this, and that I was intimidated by Levon. Levon's a great player but . . . intimidated?” (3) Griffith Paves Way for 2,000 Yard SeasonWhen Howard Griffith was asked about his blocking for Terrell Davis who had run for 2000 yards in a season, he said. “It's the best thing I do at this level, and the thing I excel at. Do I like to do it every play? No. I have to do it, and I have a job to do, so I accept that. But it's not the greatest thrill.” Howard Griffith has led the way for five different running backs to gain more than 1,000 yards in six seasons. The Broncos have become the second team in NFL history to have three different 1,000-yard rushers in three straight years. Davis ran for 2,008 yards in 1998, and it's safe to guess that Griffith ran just as far, getting hit just as much, simply without the ball in his hands. “I'm an extra offensive lineman,” Griffith said. “I'm not a running back. Running backs carry the ball.” (2) Howard Griffith Two Time Super Bowl ChampionWhen Howard Griffith came to the Denver Broncos, he hitched his wagon to the right train. However, he did not just go for a ride, he blocked for the NFL’s best rushing attack and made big plays in Championship Games and the two Super Bowls. In Super Bowl XXXIII, Howard Griffith was rewarded for his unselfish play, scoring two 1 yard touchdowns as the Denver Broncos beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-19. Unfortunately, he was still unnoticed by the media. “I don't have a picture of me and I scored two touchdowns. There are a lot of pictures of people in this organization who didn't even play in the game.” (2) Howard, true football fans and your teammates recognize you and we give you the Mile High Salute for being such a team player. “I have to understand my role is no less important than the role of Terrell or John Elway because if I don't go out there and do my job, we're not in the Super Bowl,” Griffith said. “Although I'm not given credit a lot of times, it's still a special role.” (4) Howard Griffith’s CareerDespite doing such an excellent job of blocking for multiple 1000 yard rushers, and Terrell Davis as a 2000 yard runner, Howard Griffith never received the recognition he deserved, the Pro Bowl. “How can you have a 2,000-yard rusher and your fullback not be a Pro Bowl player?'' running back Vaughn Hebron asked. “To me that's ridiculous. I remember when the Dallas Cowboys had their heyday with Emmitt (Smith). The Moose (fullback Daryl Johnston) was a shoo-in. His two guards and his center were shoo-ins. Any time you have a 2,000-yard rusher, there's a lot of people who are a part of that. Terrell will be the first to admit it.” (4) For his career, Griffith carried the ball just 121 times for 351 yards, caught 122 passes for another 844 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. In the post season, he added 9 carries for 20 yards and caught 14 passes for 130 yards and scored five touchdowns. He retired from the Denver Broncos and the NFL after suffering an injury in the 2001 pre season. By A. Goodin, 20Yardline.com Howard Griffith Bibiliography:(1) HOWARD GRIFFITH (1997, December 7) Rocky Mountain News |
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