Robert Griffin III versus the New Orleans Saints

Aug 8, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) warms up before a game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

The news coming from the Washington Redskins will be at a slow crawl for the next few weeks. Sure they have OTA’s and Mini-camp also coming up but outside of signing a player or two, there won’t be anything exciting to report. Therefore, I decided to go back and look at the most exciting season for the Redskins in many years, 2012.

Robert Griffin III is expected to hold onto the starting quarterback spot going into the 2015 season. There will be some competition with Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy but it is Griffin’s job to lose. Griffin seems to have the support of General Manager, Scot McCloughan, and for now, head coach, Jay Gruden.

Griffin has been through very tumultuous times since his Rookie of the Year season in 2012. He was benched for the final three games of the 2013 season by former head coach, Mike Shanahan, “to protect him.” In 2014, Griffin hurt his ankle and missed several games while Cousins got his second or third chance to show what he could do.

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That started the carousel at quarterback for the team as Cousins was eventually benched for McCoy who gave way to Griffin when he returned. Then Griffin was benched for McCoy who got hurt and was replaced by Griffin only to return to start the next game and get hurt again with Griffin again replacing him…whew. Try saying that three times real fast.

Griffin started the final two games of the season and looked good in a win versus the Eagles. He didn’t look as good in the final game, a loss to the Cowboys.

Griffin is again on the hot seat for the Redskins

Griffin is again on the hot seat for the Redskins after they picked up his fifth year option of about $16 million. He must perform well in 2015 if he wants to earn that money or the team may just release him before the 2016 season.

Back in 2012, there was no hot seat for Griffin. He was considered the Redskins franchise quarterback and “hope” for the future. Let’s take a look at Griffin’s first game in the NFL versus the New Orleans Saints.

Next: The First Quarter