A tumultuous season for Robert Griffin III has hit another bump with the news that he will be benched by Washington in favour of Colt McCoy for this weekend’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
“My job is to do everything we can to win,” the Washington head coach, Jay Gruden, said on Wednesday. “At this time, I just feel like Colt gives us a better opportunity.”
The decision is not necessarily the end of Griffin’s career in Washington – a source close to the team says he is still part of long-term plans – but it ends a miserable few weeks for a player who was named Offensive Rookie of the Year two years ago. He threw for just 106 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in his most recent outing and has thrown only two touchdowns in five starts this season. He has also been hampered by injuries during his short career, undergoing major knee surgery and dislocating his ankle earlier this season. It is those injuries that have affected his once formidable running game – he rushed for 815 yards in his rookie season – while his development as a pocket passer has been called into question.
Griffin has also been unable to gain the trust of his team-mates. DeSean Jackson said the quarterback’s return after injury had team-mates “feeling a certain way”, hardly a ringing endorsement from one of Washington’s most dynamic players.
The future may not be entirely bleak for Griffin, however. Washington have their full complement of draft picks next season, after giving up three first-round picks when they selected him second overall in 2012, and will also be well under the salary cap. That means Griffin could have a stronger supporting cast if Washington do decide to rebuild around him. Speculation has also risen over Griffin’s destination should he leave Washington, with the St Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles among the teams suggested.
