The decision to draft Robert Griffin III for most of last season seemed like the best decision the menĀ in chargeĀ of the Washington Redskins have made in quite some time. When he went down with a knee injury in the postseason, it seemed like the worst moment anyone could imagine.
A few months later, and RG3 is promising to make his return by the time for the 2013 season. It’s doing good. I’ll be ready. That’s what he said to reporters at the Texas Capitol,Ā appearing before both chambers of the Texas Legislature for resolutions honoring his career.
Griffin, who won the Heisman trophy after a fantastic season with Baylor in 2011, leading the program to its best season ever, he became the number 2 pick in the 2012 NFL draft, and from the moment hisĀ professionalĀ career began, it looked like the Redskins wouldn’t be regretting taking him as their first round pick.
In his career opener against the New Orleans Saints, Griffin limited his runs outside the pocket, but showed there’s not always a need to scramble. HisĀ precision, his poise, his arm strength, reminded everyone of a quarterback who is 8-9-10 years in the league, not playing his first game. He finished with 320 yards and 2 touchdown passes, completing 73.1% of his passes.
He led the Redskins to a 10-6 season, winning the NFC East and making the postseason for the first time since 2007. He missed one game due to his knee problem, and looked a bit different coming back for the final games, not the same. It didn’t matter. He led the Redskins to a win over the Dallas Cowboys on the final day of the season to clinch the playoff spot, where they found themselves against the Seattle Seahawks.
There things went wrong. Griffin got hurt, but refused to leave and be taken off. Some say Mike Shanahan should have forced him off the field. It didn’t really matter. It ended with Griffin re-injuring the knee, not getting up for a second time. Krik Cousins was sent to the field without much of chance to do something.
In 2013, the Redskins will be better – last season they had Griffin, Morris and a lot of other problems. Things should look better overall, but it all depends on Griffin, his knee, and the date of his return.