Calm storm out of backfield

ENGLEWOOD - Quentin Griffin reported to Denver Broncos training camp Tuesday, walking to the team's headquarters at a brisk pace with his head held low to avoid his biggest obstacle of the day: reporters.

Griffin starts training camp practice today as Denver's starting running back, but unlike his predecessor Clinton Portis, the soft- spoken Griffin probably won't be spotted on the sideline wearing a championship belt.

Griffin has an almost peculiar disdain for attention, which will make it interesting for him in camp considering many eyes will be on him as he tries to maintain Denver's tradition of outstanding running backs under coach Mike Shanahan.

"He's a different character," running back Mike Anderson said. "He's a great guy, don't get me wrong. He's just real quiet and shy. I don't even know if shy is the word to say for it, just quiet. He don't say much, and he's a unique guy."

Griffin didn't break stride Tuesday when he was asked about being the starter at the start of camp.

"I don't even know if I'm the No. 1 guy, so I have no pressure," Griffin politely said as he walked. "I just want to have a good camp."

And with that Griffin went into the building, answering no more questions. That wouldn't seem strange to anyone who knows Griffin, because they all say he's very quiet even away from media or fans.

"You're never going to see him out bragging about something he does," said Cale Gundy, Griffin's position coach in college at Oklahoma. "He wouldn't even brag to his mother about anything he did.

"I don't know if I've ever met anyone like him."

The Broncos could care less if Griffin is the life of the party -- and after two years with brash University of Miami product Portis, the decrease in the decibel level is probably welcomed -- as long as Griffin is as productive as they think he can be.

A fourth-round pick last season, Griffin broke a bone in his leg during the first practice of training camp and didn't return until Week 3 of the regular season. Griffin made a splash with a 136-yard rushing effort late in the season at Indianapolis with Portis injured and out of the lineup, but Griffin's injury slowed his development.

With a full training camp, Shanahan expects big things out of Griffin.

"He's very elusive," Shanahan said. "Just take a look at that Indy game. He had some runs in there people can't make."

The biggest question with Griffin will be if he can hold up over a full season. Griffin is 5-foot-7 and listed at 195 pounds, one of the reasons he fell to the fourth round despite a very productive college career.

However, Griffin was a workhorse at Oklahoma and didn't miss a game his final two seasons. His senior season he carried 287 times in 14 games. Portis had 273 and 290 carries, respectively, in his two Broncos seasons.

"He did a pretty good job at Oklahoma. I don't believe he ever got hurt, and he carried the ball a lot of times in a pretty tough conference," Shanahan said. "You look at a guy that's 5-foot-7 and weighs 195 pounds, that's a pretty good package."

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