Robert Griffin III Benched

[Tyrion Lannister]

The Washington Redcoats finally took the right step and benched Robert griffin III.

I dunno if it's the right move. Guess time will tell.

There was a time when Holmgren seriously considered benching a struggling Brett Favre. The Walrus eventually decided to let Favre learn from his mistakes on the field, not the bench. Had Favre been benched, his confidence would've been shot through a black hole, and he would've never turned into the GOAT.

The Redcoats' decision to bench RG3 puzzles me. They're not gonna make the playoffs. RG3 is not a lowly 6th round pick. Let the guy gunsling and gain more experience. Who knows, RG3 could turn out to be the black Favre.

[Guiness]

I dunno if it's the right move. Guess time will tell.

There was a time when Holmgren seriously considered benching a struggling Brett Favre. The Walrus eventually decided to let Favre learn from his mistakes on the field, not the bench. Had Favre been benched, his confidence would've been shot through a black hole, and he would've never turned into the GOAT.

The Redcoats' decision to bench RG3 puzzles me. They're not gonna make the playoffs. RG3 is not a lowly 6th round pick. Let the guy gunsling and gain more experience. Who knows, RG3 could turn out to be the black Favre.

Problem is, he's not gunslinging, he's gun-shy. Favre was throwing the ball all over the place, just making bad decisions. RG3 is jumpy in the pocket, is absorbing a lot of hits and is more worried about where the next one is coming from than anything else. A QB's confidence can also be destroyed by taking too much of a beating.

He reminds me more of Finley coming back after his injury than anything else. He's hearing footsteps out there.

[call_me_ishmael]

Partial is that you?
Here's what Chris Cooley thinks about that.

I just think he is not healthy/into it right now. The talent is there. He throws a pretty football and I recall during the joke of an Andy Luck or RG3 debate some were saying that RG3 throws a prettier ball compared to Luck on routes > 20 yards.

I think RG3 will be a pretty good player in time. I don't think that place is necessarily Washington. If I'm RG3, I hope to go to one of the following teams after Washington for a year or two - even if it's as a back-up for a year.

1. Denver
2. New England
3. Miami

I think he could realistically end up in one of the following places in a year or so and be successful:

1. Philly
2. Chicago
3. Houston
4. Tampa
5. Arizona

[woodbuck27]

I just think he is not healthy/into it right now. The talent is there. He throws a pretty football and I recall during the joke of an Andy Luck or RG3 debate some were saying that RG3 throws a prettier ball compared to Luck on routes > 20 yards.

I think RG3 will be a pretty good player in time. I don't think that place is necessarily Washington. If I'm RG3, I hope to go to one of the following teams after Washington for a year or two - even if it's as a back-up for a year.

1. Denver
2. New England
3. Miami

I think he could realistically end up in one of the following places in a year or so and be successful:

1. Philly
2. Chicago
3. Houston
4. Tampa
5. Arizona

Jacksonville, Houston and Tennessee all have need at QB. The question now is whether or not he can be an effective NFL Starting QB? The reason are his mechanics, pocket presence and vision downfield. He's not seeing multiple open targets and simply firing the ball. Good QB's plant the foot and fire it out there. His footwork as he pass's the ball is sloppy even when he dunks it off.

[woodbuck27]

This kid is not a bust and I would take him in a second - though not in front of Rodgers obviously. He will be a stud in a few years. He has a great arm. He is just small.

I've been watching him carefully ever since his injury and that whole thing was messed up something awful.

They hurried Robert Griffin III back and I felt his competitive fire and desire was a part of that. He should have been nursed back much more carefully.

Now writing that overall since that return from his leg injury he's played poorly. He handled the pressure of it all terribly and got in the way of himself and his best interests for his future in the NFL.

I will be surprized if Robert Griffin III ever returns to his Rookie year form.

[George Cumby]

Not a bust, busted up by Shanny.

[woodbuck27]

Not a bust, busted up by Shanny.

My recommendation for Robert Griffin III.

[mraynrand]

^^^ I agree - he's not a bust. Just needs the right situation to get his confidence back.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...e7b_story.html

RE: The latest talk and RGIIIL

Things are changing fast for this one time prized draft.

" It’s highly unlikely the struggling quarterback will return next season, people within the organization say." Jason Reid (of the Washington Post.)


Albert Breer ✔ @ AlbertBreer

"Asked a number of decision-makers this AM about Robert Griffin's trade value ... Consensus: mid-round pick; a 3 and change on the high end."

9:37 AM - 26 Nov 2014

[mraynrand]

I believe in RGIII!

[pbmax]

McCoy is hurt.

[woodbuck27]

McCoy is hurt.

Colt McCoy (neck) is expected to be inactive for Week 16.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5699/colt-mccoy

[NewsBruin]

I'm a tad biased here. He desperately needs the McCarthy Fantasy QB Camp treatment.

I don't know what QB coaching he got in DC, but he did put in the time on his first preseason (all his commercials were filmed before training camp). The Shanahans gave him an easy-read offense for Year One, and his PA skills made everyone look awesome. Of course, Lobster Bill never wanted him and leaked to the DC press at every turn (Machiavellianism apparently a time-honored DC football tradition). Plus, being a wide-eyed 21-year-old told you're going to be the football/racial messiah of DC (and do it with a #hashtag at every turn)...

Since then, he's shown that he's not there right now mentally or emotionally to read the field pre-snap. I want for him to be an awesome QB, but the league's figured him out faster than he can adjust. He's the fill-in starter, but Gruden's not going to lose his job over someone who can't produce. He's already hamstrung with an ineffective front office climbing out of the Haynesworth crater and draft dearth. And I think his teammates are just tired of the whole saga.

Because RG3's a new-CBA first-rounder, his contract is low but fully guaranteed through 2015. If they trade him, they eat the $4 million remaining signing bonus on the cap, but save $3 million in cap and real money. If they cut him, they still have to cut him checks (even if another team picks him up-which is as it should be). That makes him a not-unattractive test drive for a team with cap space, but lowers his trade return (unless DC has two suitors to play against each other). Teams are pretty good at smelling desperation.

His agent is/was? Ben Dogra, who got fired with cause from CAA last year, so that may be a factor in any complicated moves.

DC's big question is, "Is he our QB for 2016?" If Gruden doesn't see it, then Bruce Allen should go ahead and get anything they can for him in the Spring (and just bite the "you're the ones who screwed up RG3" PR hit). If Gruden does see it, then they have a huge enough rebuilding project ahead.

[woodbuck27]

I'm a tad biased here. He desperately needs the McCarthy Fantasy QB Camp treatment.

I don't know what QB coaching he got in DC, but he did put in the time on his first preseason (all his commercials were filmed before training camp). The Shanahans gave him an easy-read offense for Year One, and his PA skills made everyone look awesome. Of course, Lobster Bill never wanted him and leaked to the DC press at every turn (Machiavellianism apparently a time-honored DC football tradition). Plus, being a wide-eyed 21-year-old told you're going to be the football/racial messiah of DC (and do it with a #hashtag at every turn)...

Since then, he's shown that he's not there right now mentally or emotionally to read the field pre-snap. I want for him to be an awesome QB, but the league's figured him out faster than he can adjust. He's the fill-in starter, but Gruden's not going to lose his job over someone who can't produce. He's already hamstrung with an ineffective front office climbing out of the Haynesworth crater and draft dearth. And I think his teammates are just tired of the whole saga.

Because RG3's a new-CBA first-rounder, his contract is low but fully guaranteed through 2015. If they trade him, they eat the $4 million remaining signing bonus on the cap, but save $3 million in cap and real money. If they cut him, they still have to cut him checks (even if another team picks him up-which is as it should be). That makes him a not-unattractive test drive for a team with cap space, but lowers his trade return (unless DC has two suitors to play against each other). Teams are pretty good at smelling desperation.

His agent is/was? Ben Dogra, who got fired with cause from CAA last year, so that may be a factor in any complicated moves.

DC's big question is, "Is he our QB for 2016?" If Gruden doesn't see it, then Bruce Allen should go ahead and get anything they can for him in the Spring (and just bite the "you're the ones who screwed up RG3" PR hit). If Gruden does see it, then they have a huge enough rebuilding project ahead.

Solid post...Repped.

[KYPack]

I'm a tad biased here. He desperately needs the McCarthy Fantasy QB Camp treatment.

I don't know what QB coaching he got in DC, but he did put in the time on his first preseason (all his commercials were filmed before training camp). The Shanahans gave him an easy-read offense for Year One, and his PA skills made everyone look awesome. Of course, Lobster Bill never wanted him and leaked to the DC press at every turn (Machiavellianism apparently a time-honored DC football tradition). Plus, being a wide-eyed 21-year-old told you're going to be the football/racial messiah of DC (and do it with a #hashtag at every turn)...

Since then, he's shown that he's not there right now mentally or emotionally to read the field pre-snap. I want for him to be an awesome QB, but the league's figured him out faster than he can adjust. He's the fill-in starter, but Gruden's not going to lose his job over someone who can't produce. He's already hamstrung with an ineffective front office climbing out of the Haynesworth crater and draft dearth. And I think his teammates are just tired of the whole saga.

Because RG3's a new-CBA first-rounder, his contract is low but fully guaranteed through 2015. If they trade him, they eat the $4 million remaining signing bonus on the cap, but save $3 million in cap and real money. If they cut him, they still have to cut him checks (even if another team picks him up-which is as it should be). That makes him a not-unattractive test drive for a team with cap space, but lowers his trade return (unless DC has two suitors to play against each other). Teams are pretty good at smelling desperation.

His agent is/was? Ben Dogra, who got fired with cause from CAA last year, so that may be a factor in any complicated moves.

DC's big question is, "Is he our QB for 2016?" If Gruden doesn't see it, then Bruce Allen should go ahead and get anything they can for him in the Spring (and just bite the "you're the ones who screwed up RG3" PR hit). If Gruden does see it, then they have a huge enough rebuilding project ahead.

4 million isn't that prohibitive in making the change at QB. The Bears are wedded to Cutler, fer instance. I didn't realize how bad THAT deal was. Chi would be on the hook for a cool 38 million for the remaining two years of that one.


RGIII has skills but he flat out has not put in the work to get up to speed in a pro offense.

You are 100% right.

They have sliced the playbook way down for him, which is a limited situation.

The front office needs to call him in and give him a reality check.

If Griffin was cut, it might be a better situation for him.

J GRU's system is an adult portion and RGIII is more of a Happy Meal kind of guy.

[NewsBruin]

4 million isn't that prohibitive in making the change at QB. The Bears are wedded to Cutler, fer instance. I didn't realize how bad THAT deal was. Chi would be on the hook for a cool 38 million for the remaining two years of that one.


RGIII has skills but he flat out has not put in the work to get up to speed in a pro offense.

You are 100% right.

They have sliced the playbook way down for him, which is a limited situation.

The front office needs to call him in and give him a reality check.

If Griffin was cut, it might be a better situation for him.

J GRU's system is an adult portion and RGIII is more of a Happy Meal kind of guy.

I appreciate the praise, but I don't entirely agree.

I wanted to preface that I don't know what's entirely true from the Shanahan/Griffin days. I read a lot of WaPo articles, and every on-the-record quote was matched with two unnamed sources. Everyone leaked info to someone, and the kindest thing I can say is that Dad Shanahan was never on-board with the trade and he fought until the bitter end to get fired and pick up his full contract value.

Griffin worked his tail off to learn the Year One offense, which was similar to the Briles Baylor offense (limited field reads, defensive player keys, pre-snap decisions run/pass/keeper packaged options) with Shanahan's zone-blocking. I believe he set the rookie completion percentage record.

The Year Two offense was supposed to be more pro-style (whole-field reads, fewer keepers, more post-snap decisions). I'd like to think that his knee rehab and the irrevocably broken trust kept him from picking it up. I read that by the end, Rex Grossman was the go-between for everyone.

Then in Year Three, you've got more pro-style and a new coach who doesn't want an injury-prone pro project to kill his career before it starts.

Like I said, I'm a bit biased on this, because I don't want my alma mater to have the rep of "system offense" players (Baylor WRs? Pretty good. Baylor OL? Not doing well at all). On top of that, I just don't want RG3 to get slagged as an "egotistical, athletic" QB who couldn't lead a complicated pro offense (dog whistle).

He probably does need to study more, drill on the above-the-neck issues, and get put on media lockdown for a while. I don't think it's inherently bad, but worrying about the Big Picture is not going to keep him employed in 2018, if that's what he wants to do by then.

RG3 is a cheap rental for a team like the Titans or Bucs that doesn't have a solid starter and might see a multi-year role in his future (as are the Raiders and Jets, but at that point, just shoot me in the head). As you said, he's a heck of a lot cheaper than Cutler or Alex Smith. I think his trade value is small, as he's on his last contract year and his coach has told NFL.com, of all places, a laundry list of mechanical and mental faults.

On the plus side, he owns his house, he banked all his endorsement money and lived off his rookie salary. His wife is young and cute (and they both love their in-laws), and Baylor Law School will take him, so things could be a lot worse. I'm sure he'd trade his knees with mine any morning.

[mraynrand]

On top of that, I just don't want RG3 to get slagged as an "egotistical, athletic" QB who couldn't lead a complicated pro offense (dog whistle).

Like Johnny Manzier?

[NewsBruin]

Like Johnny Manzier?

Is he a C-cup?

[woodbuck27]

I appreciate the praise, but I don't entirely agree.

I wanted to preface that I don't know what's entirely true from the Shanahan/Griffin days. I read a lot of WaPo articles, and every on-the-record quote was matched with two unnamed sources. Everyone leaked info to someone, and the kindest thing I can say is that Dad Shanahan was never on-board with the trade and he fought until the bitter end to get fired and pick up his full contract value.

Griffin worked his tail off to learn the Year One offense, which was similar to the Briles Baylor offense (limited field reads, defensive player keys, pre-snap decisions run/pass/keeper packaged options) with Shanahan's zone-blocking. I believe he set the rookie completion percentage record.

The Year Two offense was supposed to be more pro-style (whole-field reads, fewer keepers, more post-snap decisions). I'd like to think that his knee rehab and the irrevocably broken trust kept him from picking it up. I read that by the end, Rex Grossman was the go-between for everyone.

Then in Year Three, you've got more pro-style and a new coach who doesn't want an injury-prone pro project to kill his career before it starts.

Like I said, I'm a bit biased on this, because I don't want my alma mater to have the rep of "system offense" players (Baylor WRs? Pretty good. Baylor OL? Not doing well at all). On top of that, I just don't want RG3 to get slagged as an "egotistical, athletic" QB who couldn't lead a complicated pro offense (dog whistle).

He probably does need to study more, drill on the above-the-neck issues, and get put on media lockdown for a while. I don't think it's inherently bad, but worrying about the Big Picture is not going to keep him employed in 2018, if that's what he wants to do by then.

RG3 is a cheap rental for a team like the Titans or Bucs that doesn't have a solid starter and might see a multi-year role in his future (as are the Raiders and Jets, but at that point, just shoot me in the head). As you said, he's a heck of a lot cheaper than Cutler or Alex Smith. I think his trade value is small, as he's on his last contract year and his coach has told NFL.com, of all places, a laundry list of mechanical and mental faults.

On the plus side, he owns his house, he banked all his endorsement money and lived off his rookie salary. His wife is young and cute (and they both love their in-laws), and Baylor Law School will take him, so things could be a lot worse. I'm sure he'd trade his knees with mine any morning.

" and get put on media lockdown for a while " NewsBruin

He's covering that one right at this time.

Of course.... RD III must be fined $50 K$ by the NFL. Really !?

[KYPack]

NB, I think RG III is a good kid and his setbacks have humbled him a good deal.

He's probably learned that there is a ton to master to be a pocket passer and that's what he must do to be a success.

A trip away from DC and time & a system that he can mange will help him + the experience of the last few years.

He's looked much better these last few games.

The DC thing just hasn't worked out, like to see him get the fresh restart someplace.