Some players have watched Washington’s Robert Griffin III and concluded with so little at stake, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year should just look to next year and not even play after offseason knee surgery.
“You don’t prepare for the next season during this season. Right now, we’re trying to win games,” said Griffin, the Giants’ Sunday night headache who underwent surgery to repair his ACL and LCL following last season’s playoff loss to Seattle, a game that aggravated existing injuries.
The rookie campaign for RG3 mostly was the stuff of dreams. This season, he has taken hit after hit. His stats have suffered. Eyebrows raised within and without the 3-8 Redskins when his father accompanied him to the locker room after his press session following Monday night’s loss.
“Some of the stuff comes with losing, the criticism and you’ve got to be able to handle that,” Griffin said. “He [father] meant no harm. He’s never overstepped his bounds. He’s my dad. Like I told people … don’t go after my family.”
Then there was 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks claiming Griffin is a shell of last year and shouldn’t even play without his explosiveness or elusiveness.
“I don’t agree,” said Griffin. “I appreciate his compassion.”
The Giants, who get to examine Griffin up close and personal at Washington’s FedEx Field, claim not to see any of that. While he might not be the same threat of a year ago, he still represents a problem of Biblical proportions.
“Absolutely he’s dangerous,” said safety Antrel Rolle. “You still can line him up against 85 percent of the guys on the field and I’m sure he’ll outrun them. When you’re coming off a knee injury, there’s a lot of things that go into that both mentally and physically. As far as some of his movement, is it the same as it was the year before? No, it’s not. But it’s close.”
OK, so the numbers aren’t as close. Last season, Griffin rushed for 815 yards, an average of 54.3 a game while throwing five interceptions. This season, Griffin averages 33.4 rushing yards and has been picked 11 times. Not as mobile, but still dangerous say the Giants.
“I’m not putting this on him, but a 65 percent RG3 is still very tough to defense and you have to account for him,” said defensive end Justin Tuck. “Teams have got more shots on him this year, maybe that’s why his numbers are down. I see him turn an edge plenty of times. So he’s still very dangerous.”
Washington coach Mike Shanahan stressed how Griffin suffered by missing preseason.
“It’s hard for anybody to miss an offseason, especially the quarterback position,” Shanahan said on a conference call Wednesday.
Griffin wanted no part of that.
“I don’t use that as an excuse,” he said.
As for opponent suggestions RG3 become a spectator, Shanahan dismissed the outside evaluations.
“We listen to the doctors and I think they’ve got a pretty good handle of where Robert is,” Shanahan said.
And to the Giants, hoping to respond from the stinging defeat against Dallas, Griffin is right near the very top of “Stuff We’ve Got to Fret About.”
“You just see more teams trying to attack him now and it’s throwing him off rhythm a little bit. But as far as RG3 as a player, we all know what he’s capable of and what he’s shown that he can do in this league,” Rolle said. “He’s still, in my eyes, a phenomenal player.”