Washington will start Kirk Cousins at quarterback for their NFL season opener against the Dolphins on Sunday, throwing into doubt the future of Robert Griffin III.
According to ESPN, Washington’s coaching staff told the players on Monday morning that Cousins, not Griffin, will start the week one game at FedEx Field. Head coach Jay Gruden confirmed the news after the team’s practice on Monday.
“I think all three quarterbacks should be commended for their efforts, their willingness to get better,” said Gruden. “But when it’s all said and done ... we feel like at this time Kirk Cousins gives us the best chance to win.”
Griffin was left out of Saturday’s pre-season win over the Ravens with concussion symptoms, after a controversial back-and-forth over whether he was clear to play, amid mounting speculation that Washington are ready to trade the talented but fragile quarterback.
Reports claim some high-ranking team officials and coaches want to part ways with Griffin, but are meeting resistance from team ownership, team and league sources. The Washington Post said that owner Dan Snyder is not blocking a possible trade, but that the decision rests with Gruden. However, Washington may struggle to offload Griffin because of the $16m salary that the fifth-year option for 2016 carries.
Gruden insisted on Monday that Griffin is still part of his plans, but did not say whether he or Colt McCoy would be Cousins’ back-up. “We believe in Robert,” Gruden said. “It’s a good problem to have – to have three quarterbacks that are competing and working their butts off.”
He also denied that Griffin was in danger of being traded. “There have been no discussions about letting him go or doing any of that stuff,” Gruden said. “The door is not shut on Robert Griffin.”
Cousins completed 20 of 27 passes for 190 yards, a touchdown and an interception Saturday, and said he was ready to start against the Dolphins if called upon.
“Nobody has told me anything like that,” Cousins said when asked if he’d been selected to start in week one. “If I want to stay in this league, I’ve got to be ready all the time. If they want me to start, I’ll do my best.”
Cousins was also quick to pay tribute to the 2012 offensive rookie of the year.
“I can’t say enough about the class act Robert has been from the day I was drafted to now,” said Cousins. “The way he has treated me, the way he has handled a lot of adversity – I have marveled at his ability as a rookie to never flinch, to compete as a young player in this league and win rookie of the year and taking our team to the playoffs and winning the division. I marveled at that. The way that he is a fierce competitor, I’ve always respected. He has always been a guy who remains classy, works very, very hard and I’ve learned from that example.”
Cousins, 27, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, has started nine regular-season games over his first three seasons in the NFL.
The latest controversy around Griffin was a subject of debate on Fox on Sunday, when former Super Bowl MVP Troy Aikman described Washington as “more dysfunctional than the Kardashians”.
Aikman was commentating on the pre-season game between the Saints and Texans, and remarked to Joe Buck: “It’s pretty bizarre, huh? Someone compared the Redskins to the Kardashians, saying they’re the Kardashians of the NFL. I don’t think that’s fair – I don’t think the Kardashians are nearly as dysfunctional.”
