October 1, 2008 11:11 AM

Gruden on Pittman, Griese, Raiders

Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden expressed high praise for Broncos running back Michael Pittman on Wednesday.

Pittman, who played the past six seasons with the Buccaneers, appeared in 10 games with Tampa last year but was deemed expendable when the club reacquired Warrick Dunn. Pittman has been a solid contributor for the Broncos with a team-leading four touchdowns--one more than he had scored since the beginning of the 2005 season.

"He's got a lot in the tank and I certainly wish him well," Gruden said. "He's one of my favorite guys. He can play fullback, tailback. He can line up as a receiver.

"We have Earnest Graham, who has really become an outstanding back. I think (Pittman) would tell you that himself. We have Cadillac Williams in the bullpen about to come back. And the opportunity came to get reacquainted with Warrick Dunn. Obviously we made a decision to go that route. Hopefully there is no hard feelings. We wish Mike all the best."

The 33-year old Dunn also has shown he still has some juice, ranking second for Tampa with 197 rushing yards and adding 10 receptions for 82 yards.

"(Dunn) has helped us a lot," Gruden said. "He's comfortable in a two-back set. He's comfortable in a one-back set. He can break formations. He understands protection. He's one heck of a human being, too. We miss Mike Pittman, but we were fortunate to get hooked up with Warrick Dunn."

* Gruden, known for his affinity for veteran quarterbacks, has former Broncos signal-caller Brian Griese running his offense. "I'm just very comfortable and confident with him. He's a football guy. He understands the game. I think he's a good passer. I think he's a good team man. He's a guy that can handle situational football. We've had a few interceptions we need to clean up in the last couple ball games, but he has really come in here and helped our young players and really given us some quality snaps."

* Gruden, like Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, is a former coach of the Oakland Raiders. But Gruden said he did not watch the coverage of the fallout from the firing of Oakland coach Lane Kiffin. "I didn't see it one single word of that conference. I've got my own problems here. The Denver Broncos are all over the place and they're pretty good. I have a lot more on my mind then that."

* Count Gruden among the admirers of blossoming Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. "I love this guy. (With Vanderbilt) I watched him play the Gators down here and he had them on the ropes by himself. He's got a cannon. He reminds me so much of Brett Favre when I was in Green Bay in '92, three, and four."

* Griese had a big game against another one of his former teams, the Chicago Bears, on Sept. 21 and is excited to face the Broncos on Sunday. Griese still has a home in Denver and remains involved in local charity work. "It's going to be a lot of fun for me to come back. I'm really looking forward to it."

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