Just two years ago the NFL and its fan base was singing the praises of Washington Redskins’ quarterback Robert Griffin, III. The young signal caller had set the football community on fire with a remarkable rookie campaign that saw him receive the NFL Rookie of the Year award. He was beloved by all and feared by many. Opposing players openly discussed how they were not looking forward to chasing the ultra-athletic and strong-armed quarterback around. The Redskins had finally grabbed themselves a sure-fire, can’t-miss franchise player.
Then, December 9, 2012 happened. On that day, Griffin suffered a knee injury during the fourth quarter in a game against the Baltimore Ravens. This date is remembered with infamy for many Redskins fans. To some there is a “BRGIII” time period, i.e., Before RGIII, and there is an “ARGIII”, After RGIII; as if to say the Griffin of two years ago is no longer with us… at least with regard to his prowess on the field. Another infamous date, January 6, 2013, marks the game — a wildcard playoff match-up against the Seattle Seahawks — in which Griffin would tear both the ACL and LCL in that injured right knee.
Griffin’s recovery of these injuries (along with other variables) has actually been remarkable.
What many fans sometimes fail to calculate in their appraisal of the QB is a litany of things that the other talented young quarterbacks in the league have not had to deal with. In breaking down those ‘things’ it should be noted that the young men who were drafted alongside Griffin (Seattle’s Russell Wilson, the Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck and the Miami Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill) all have several things working in their favor over Griffin as they compete in their third years… one of which is that all are in the same system they broke into the league with. They all have the luxury of having played for the same head coach in their time in the NFL. This helps a young quarterback tremendously as by now they know what they’re doing on the field and where they stand within the organization.
Griffin is playing for his second head coach and therefore second system in three seasons, having previously had head coach Mike Shanahan at the helm and now with current head coach Jay Gruden…. not so easy for a young quarterback.
The Baylor grad stood at the podium out at Redskins Park just a few days ago and defended his status amongst his teammates:
“No, no, I don’t,” he answered in response to a question about whether he thought that the remaining games this season provided an opportunity to lay claim to being the franchise player. “I understand that everybody has a criticism, but you have to prove yourself every day, day in and day out, in this league, in life in general. I do take that mindset toward it, but when it comes to being the franchise guy, that is what it is. I believe that I am. I believe that this organization knows that I am, and I know those guys in the locker room believe that I am. There’s no doubt there, so I don’t ever step onto the field trying to make a claim saying ‘I’m the guy.’ No, it’s not like that. This is my team and I’m going to lead it.”
The other quarterbacks already know via their organization, their teammates and their fans that they are franchise players and this has empowered their games on the field as well as their words in the locker room.
Griffin is in a tough spot with this one. Playing well is to be expected because of his pedigree as a Heisman Trophy winner at Baylor University.
But if Griffin doesn’t play well, the talk will be all about how the Redskins gave up three first-round draft picks and a second-round pick in the 2012 draft to acquire him and how the ends do not justify the means.
The last part to this equation is that some will believe that, had Griffin never been injured in that playoff game against Seattle, or even had the initial injury against Baltimore; he would be an entirely different player.
For this young man, the critics will be silenced when the Washington Redskins start winning — and winning on a consistent basis.
The critics should remember as well what Griffin accomplished in his first three years. How many quarterbacks were ever NFL Rookie of the Year? What about a Pro-Bowler in their first year? How about a division champion in their first year?
Admittedly, Russell Wilson has a Lombardi Trophy and Andrew Luck has been to the playoffs two straight seasons. But without question their respective teams were better than the Redskins were at that point in their careers.
How would Griffin look behind those offensive lines in Seattle, Indianapolis and Miami? He has not had the same metrics to be measured fairly. This is a young team under a first year head coach so growing pains are to be expected.
The most important thing for his development is to have a strong relationship with Gruden — who is also trying to show his worth as a first time head coach.
“Yeah, man, it’s been great,” Griffin said to the media this week about his relationship with his head coach. “I think I’ve learned a lot that will help me throughout the rest of my career just from him and in general. It’s increased the hunger for the game. Being out, it’s increased everything. I’ve always said it… it’s really hard to think that you want something more when you’re in it but, when it’s taken away from you, you always want it a little more. After each of my injuries, I’ve loved football that much more. It’s not to say that I didn’t love it before, but I think everybody in that locker room feels the same way. We want to win games. We want to be an organization that consistently wins, and we are going to figure that out. I know not many people might not believe that. Many people in this room might not believe that. They might not believe we might not have the leadership on this team to be successful. But we do, and that’s all that matters – what we believe and what we go out and do. And we have to prove it; we know that.”
Although Griffin and the Redskins lost to Minnesota last week, the quarterback showed signs of being the special player that most around the Washington, D.C. beltway think he could become. In his first return to action since dislocating his ankle back in September, the young play-maker did well. He could have done some things better. But overall, throws were made that eighty percent of the league’s quarterbacks could not make. This should be enough to convince fans that the potential is there for Griffin to be THE guy long term.
These last seven regular season games for the Washington Redskins will surely dictate the direction the franchise. Robert Griffin, III can lead this team and this organization in his own unique way as the franchise player.