Robert Griffin III was a media darling coming off his Junior year with Baylor. A guy who rose from a second round draft pick at best to the number 2 quarterback in the nation, the projected number 2 pick heading into the 2012 NFL Draft. As D-Day approaches, suddenly some scouts seem not too happy with certain traits of Griffin, some labeling as selfish.
Suddenly, from a guy who some even projected as going before Andrew Luck, RG III is someone to stay away from? It’s true, Luck has shown, especially to the Colts by showing up for their private audition, that he should go number one. A bigger body of work, as to Griffin’s meteoric rise. Still, suddenly the Redskins, who were in love with the Baylor man all along, should stay away from him?
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Now, the general opinion couldn’t be different. Many refer to Griffin as a class act. A guy oozing charisma (or oozing machismo, like Razor Ramon), who wide receivers love playing with. He doesn’t have the classic quarterback attributes, but his ability to win close games (Tebow, anyone?) and athleticism seem to have most quite keen on his chances in the NFL.
Is this another case of a black quarterback getting criticized just because of his skin color? Partially yes. Alarmingly, maybe it has everything to do with it. Because it seems that everyone who’s met Griffin thinks he’s a great guy, and don’t think the socks-bit is fake. And even if he does have a bit of a selfish streak, so what? I usually expect all great players to have some selfish genes in them. It usually helps makes them great, pushing them further and higher.
The problems with Griffin, according to these scouts, is what happened before his breakout year with the Bears, and everything concealed by his big game achievements. Not just his character, but major flaws in his game. One described him as a Michael Vick but with a weaker arm. Another was a comparison to Cam Newton, and not in a good way.
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I think the Redskins would be glad if Griffin produced like either of the two. Newton just had one of the greatest rookie seasons in history. He too was questionable, according to the scouts, about his ability in the pocket and under pressure, questioned regarding his personality. He too had/has a Selfish Streak.
Griffin? He feels this is all about some scouts trying to tear him down. Why? No idea. Race. Maybe he wasn’t nice to one of them. Even if he is all these things, it’s weird that they’ve come out only now, six days before he is supposed to be drafted by the Washington Redskins.
It’s just when the draft gets closer, everybody’s going to try and find something wrong with you to try and pull you down, so I’m not going to sit here and argue that, well that guy is dead wrong. But I think the people that know me, and even in the people in the media have seen, know I’m not a selfish guy. You know you don’t have to fight your own battles. Let other people fight them for you. That’s about all I can say about that. I heard it, but it’s not something I’m going to address.