After a 2011 Heisman Trophy at Baylor and a second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Robert Griffin III’s future looked bright after he stepped onto the big stage and won the Offensive NFL Rookie of the Year Award, passing for over 3,000 yards and adding on around 800 yards rushing. Griffin emerged out of one of the better offensive draft classes the NFL has ever seen. “RGIII” looked to be the new face of the Washington Redskins, but if you remember back in 2009 at Baylor, Griffin tore his ACL on his right knee and missed the entire season, and in his rookie year in the playoffs against Seattle, every Redskins fear came about. Griffin ended up re-tearing his ACL, after spraining it earlier that season, and needed surgery to repair it. Griffin returned in 2013 with another above par season, throwing for again over 3,000 yards, but the big stats that stuck out were his rushing yards were almost cut in half, and his QBR dropped 40 points after a rough ending to the season. This was a big deal because what made Griffin such a threat was his speed, defenses had to worry about not just the long ball but Griffin running as well, you could most definitely tell that the right knee was bothering him. Griffin’s attitude was also starting to get in the way as well, seen wearing an “Operation Patience” shirt during pre-game, due to head coach Mike Shanahan telling him to take rehab seriously and make sure his knee was completely healed. Now, after another short lived 2014 campaign, only playing in nine games, RGIII finds himself backing up Kirk Cousins under orders of new coach Jay Gruden. Gruden explained to the media that Cousins would be the starter this year after another lengthy rehab with the concussion of Griffin. Gruden made sure to tell the media however that Griffin’s future is with the Washington Redskins. Now this makes no sense, why would Washington want to keep a guy with an above average salary if he isn’t going to play? And here is the answer. No matter if Washington lets go or keeps Griffin, they have to end up paying the rest of his salary. Trade rumors have also been circulated throughout the news, and Griffin might see himself in Philadelphia with a Chip Kelly offense that very well fits his style of play. Dallas has also showed some interest in Griffin, in being able to return to his home state. Both of these are kind of up in the air, because would Washington really want to give Griffin to an inner conference rival? We will see how things shape out as the 2015-2016 NFL season gets underway.
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Dameron Roderigue
Dameron is a senior. He plays hockey and baseball at Winslow High School. |