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http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14919644/washington-redskins-release-qb-robert-griffin-iii
Griffin had lost the starting job in August and served as Washington's No. 3 quarterback all season. He was active for one game.
Had Washington kept him on the roster after 4 p.m. on March 9, his $16.15 million for 2016 would have taken effect and counted against its salary cap. By releasing him now, none of that money will count toward the cap. The Redskins had held onto Griffin until now, hoping another team might trade for him.
Also Monday, the Redskins released defensive end Jason Hatcher, potentially saving the team $6.8 million in salary cap space if they use a post-June 1 designation. Hatcher was scheduled to count $8.7 million vs. the cap.
The defensive end had contemplated retirement but coach Jay Gruden said at the combine he thought, based on a conversation with him, that Hatcher would continue playing. The Redskins had said they wanted him back, but he would need to take a pay cut. Hatcher played for Washington the past two seasons, starting at right end. Hatcher, who turns 34 in July, spent his first eight seasons with Dallas.
Griffin's release ends one of the more dramatic and emotional periods in Redskins history. Washington traded up in the 2012 draft, giving up two first-round picks and a second and swapping first-rounders with St. Louis. With the No. 2 overall pick, the Redskins selected a player who quickly became a fan favorite. He was dynamic -- being able to both throw and run -- and a household name because he had won the Heisman Trophy four months before the draft. He even had national endorsements and a catchy nickname: RG III.
Griffin certainly looked early on as if he would fulfill expectations. In his first NFL game, the Redskins unveiled their zone-read option game and Griffin starred, throwing for 320 yards and two touchdowns and running for an additional 42 yards. Griffin struggled in some games as a rookie and coaches would say he had a ways to go as a passer, mostly because he came from a spread offense at Baylor that was unlike anything he had to learn in the NFL.
But there was no hint of future discord that season.
At one point, then-coach Mike Shanahan told reporters, "I don't think anybody in the history of the league has played at his level. At least over the last 40 years, when I take a look at the numbers and what he has done, I don't think anybody has played at his level. As we've talked about before, he's got a unique skill set -- his ability to throw, drop back, play action, put a threat on a defense with his running ability -- and he will just get better and better. He's just scratching the surface. And the reason I say that is because he works at it."
Colt McCoy injured his neck. Griffin then started the final two games of the season.
At the scouting combine last year, Gruden announced that Griffin was the starter entering the 2015 season. Although coaches maintained positivity surrounding him throughout the offseason and even in camp, Griffin did not show the progress they desired. He suffered a concussion in the second preseason game, which enabled them to turn to Kirk Cousins, bumping Griffin to the No. 3 role. That's where he stayed all season.
Griffin declined all interviews this season -- and the team didn't want him talking to the media. On the day after the 2015 season ended, Griffin cleaned out his locker, taking with him his action figures and some sayings taped to his locker. But he left one hanging in his locker, an inspirational text but one that, in essence, said to ignore the critics and closes with, "In the final analysis, its [sic] between you and God. IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY."
By all accounts, Griffin handled this past season well, staying out of the spotlight.
"Obviously, he wasn't happy," Gruden said late in the season. "He's a great competitor. He accomplished some great things in 2012, he really did, but he handled it like a pro. In the long run, hopefully it'll make him a better quarterback. I know he grew a lot being a third-string quarterback here -- different system, different terminology, things that were new to him. I think the skill set that he has and he learned from [Mike] Shanahan, the new stuff that he learned from us, I think will make him a better quarterback wherever he goes -- however it works out for him."
Griffin had lost the starting job in August and served as Washington's No. 3 quarterback all season. He was active for one game.
Had Washington kept him on the roster after 4 p.m. on March 9, his $16.15 million for 2016 would have taken effect and counted against its salary cap. By releasing him now, none of that money will count toward the cap. The Redskins had held onto Griffin until now, hoping another team might trade for him.
Also Monday, the Redskins released defensive end Jason Hatcher, potentially saving the team $6.8 million in salary cap space if they use a post-June 1 designation. Hatcher was scheduled to count $8.7 million vs. the cap.
The defensive end had contemplated retirement but coach Jay Gruden said at the combine he thought, based on a conversation with him, that Hatcher would continue playing. The Redskins had said they wanted him back, but he would need to take a pay cut. Hatcher played for Washington the past two seasons, starting at right end. Hatcher, who turns 34 in July, spent his first eight seasons with Dallas.
Griffin's release ends one of the more dramatic and emotional periods in Redskins history. Washington traded up in the 2012 draft, giving up two first-round picks and a second and swapping first-rounders with St. Louis. With the No. 2 overall pick, the Redskins selected a player who quickly became a fan favorite. He was dynamic -- being able to both throw and run -- and a household name because he had won the Heisman Trophy four months before the draft. He even had national endorsements and a catchy nickname: RG III.
Griffin certainly looked early on as if he would fulfill expectations. In his first NFL game, the Redskins unveiled their zone-read option game and Griffin starred, throwing for 320 yards and two touchdowns and running for an additional 42 yards. Griffin struggled in some games as a rookie and coaches would say he had a ways to go as a passer, mostly because he came from a spread offense at Baylor that was unlike anything he had to learn in the NFL.
But there was no hint of future discord that season.
At one point, then-coach Mike Shanahan told reporters, "I don't think anybody in the history of the league has played at his level. At least over the last 40 years, when I take a look at the numbers and what he has done, I don't think anybody has played at his level. As we've talked about before, he's got a unique skill set -- his ability to throw, drop back, play action, put a threat on a defense with his running ability -- and he will just get better and better. He's just scratching the surface. And the reason I say that is because he works at it."
Colt McCoy injured his neck. Griffin then started the final two games of the season.
At the scouting combine last year, Gruden announced that Griffin was the starter entering the 2015 season. Although coaches maintained positivity surrounding him throughout the offseason and even in camp, Griffin did not show the progress they desired. He suffered a concussion in the second preseason game, which enabled them to turn to Kirk Cousins, bumping Griffin to the No. 3 role. That's where he stayed all season.
Griffin declined all interviews this season -- and the team didn't want him talking to the media. On the day after the 2015 season ended, Griffin cleaned out his locker, taking with him his action figures and some sayings taped to his locker. But he left one hanging in his locker, an inspirational text but one that, in essence, said to ignore the critics and closes with, "In the final analysis, its [sic] between you and God. IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY."
By all accounts, Griffin handled this past season well, staying out of the spotlight.
"Obviously, he wasn't happy," Gruden said late in the season. "He's a great competitor. He accomplished some great things in 2012, he really did, but he handled it like a pro. In the long run, hopefully it'll make him a better quarterback. I know he grew a lot being a third-string quarterback here -- different system, different terminology, things that were new to him. I think the skill set that he has and he learned from [Mike] Shanahan, the new stuff that he learned from us, I think will make him a better quarterback wherever he goes -- however it works out for him."
