The Rise And Fall Of RGIII: Griffin Done In Washington
It was the talk of the NFL in 2012. The Washington Redskins, in dire need of a quarterback, traded the St. Louis Rams a truck load of future draft picks to move up to the number two position in the draft. They were poised to take whichever quarterback the Indianapolis Colts didn’t select with the fist pick. The Colts took Andrew Luck at number one, and the Redskins picked Heisman-winner Robert Griffin III out of Baylor at number two.
Griffin-mania took the nation’s capital by storm, and his jersey was the highest selling jersey in the entire league and even set records for sales. His rookie season, RG3 — as he was nicknamed — put up numbers never before seen by a first year player. His inspired play helped the Washington Redskins to an NFC East title, their first since 1999. Late in his rookie season, RG3 injured his knee. His frenetic style of play, with wide-reciever speed and running back agility coupled with an incredible throwing arm, forced Griffin to do more than he probably should have, and in a game against the eventual Super Bowl-champions, the Baltimore Ravens, he got knocked out with a sprained knee. The Redskins were still able to win the division and, in the team’s first playoff game since 2006, RG3 led the Redskins to an early 14-0 score over the Seattle Seahawks. Then disaster struck. Griffin re-injured his knee. Instead of taking out the young star, coach Mike Shanahan kept RG3 in the game and on the next drive, Griffin tore his knee ligaments, putting him out of the playoffs, presumably a good portion of 2013, and threatening his career.
Griffin promised fans that he’d be back for opening day in 2013 and rushed his recovery. A tumultuous training camp followed where he wasn’t even allowed to take snaps, and he was finally declared 100 percent by doctor James Andrews. As promised, Robert Griffin III led his team to the field on the first game of the 2013 season and proceeded to look terrible. Gone was the speed and accuracy that was his signature during his rookie campaign. Many blamed a knee brace that he had to wear. Others blamed the coaching staff. When it was all said and done, RG3 was shut down at the end of the year to continue to heal and the season was lost.
In 2014, the Redskins greeted a new coach, Jay Gruden, and a new emphasis on the quarterback position. Reportedly, RG3 had spent all off-season healing and learning the new offense. In the first game, Griffin looked rusty. Though he had participated in the preseason, real-game speed was different and he looked lost on the field. In the second game against Jacksonville, Griffin looked better. He looked more in control of himself and the team. Then disaster struck yet again. Griffin injured his ankle on a scramble play. He was untouched. Many thought it was broken. There was talk that he was done for the year, but once again, he swore that he would come back.
The Redskins floundered without him, racking up only two wins. Another QB change before the Dallas game gave the Redskins a huge upset win, only their third of the season. And then Robert Griffin III came back yet again. But this time, there was no question that he was off. That his head wasn’t in the game. He missed open receivers. He failed his check downs. He was quick to the scramble option. Coach Jay Gruden, a “QB Guru,” noticed that his quarterback was in trouble. And was very vocal about it.
And now it’s been reported that RG3 may truly be done in Washington. The Washington Post has explained that Jay Gruden wants to cut ties with his quarterback at the end of this season. The move will save the Redskins guaranteed money on a contract option that many believe would be asinine for the club to pay. Owner Dan Snyder, a Griffin loyalist if there were such a thing, and GM Bruce Allen are not sure if that is the move the team should make. But one thing is certain, Jay Gruden no longer wants his job security in the hands of the former NFL Rookie of the Year.
And the fault lies with Griffin himself. Whether he rushed back too fast from the knee surgery, or if its just mental (a case of the “yips” has been offered), one thing is for certain. Robert Griffin III’s antics and reported prima donna attitude is no longer welcome in the nation’s capital. And while the guys who wear the expensive suits ponder ending what will always be the blackest eye that the organization has possibly ever endured — and this franchise is assaulted daily for their nickname — the fans are left to suffer. What was supposed to be the key to long-term success has become a cancer that has ripped the team apart and has cost one coach his job in Shanahan, and may cost Gruden his first head coaching job before all is said and done. Gruden is smarter than this, and his benching of Griffin two weeks ago was the first step is the coach retaking control of his team, as the Inquisitr reported previously.
Robert Griffin III, RG3, is done in Washington. The fans know it. The coach knows it. The owner should know it soon. But somebody should tell Griffin. What was once a superstar ascending into the atmosphere of success and the promises of championships has become something so much less. This young star’s light wasn’t just fading, it was gone. Burned out in the harsh space of the NFL. And, maybe, the only person to blame is Robert Griffin III himself.
[Images courtesy of ESPN.com; Thebackuppunter.com; nydailynews.com; AP]
