Rex Grossman knows his role behind RG3 with Redskins

Robert Griffin III is the man at quarterback for the Washington Redskins. That’s not even a question.

Veteran Rex Grossman knew that before deciding to come back.

Despite starting 13 games last season, Grossman is comfortable in his job backing up Griffin and maybe even Kirk Cousins.

“I know my role and I’m going to play it. Whatever my role is, I’m going to do it best in the NFL, whatever that is,” Grossman. “If I have to come in and play, I want to be the best quarterback that week. If I have to be there and mentor, I’m going to be the best mentor in the league. I know my role, I’m going to try to do it the best of my ability.”

Grossman spent his first three NFL seasons as a backup but started all 16 games for the Chicago Bears in 2006, helping lead them to the Super Bowl.

Now 31, Grossman doesn’t want pity for being in this spot.

“I think it’s pretty much a normal situation. I don’t have to ask for advice on how to handle this,” he said. “The writing was on the wall a long time ago that this was going to happen, before I even signed, so I knew what I was getting into and I’m happy to be here and ready to play if they need me.”

Grossman knows what it’s like to need some time to get used to a new system, something Griffin has encountered dating to organized team activities and now in the first week of training camp. New rules put in place by the collective bargaining agreement last year allow rookies to meet with coaches in the offseason while veterans cannot should help, Grossman said.

Being on the field is even better.

“You need reps. The more reps you get, the better you’re going to feel,” Grossman said. “The first time you run something and the first time you’re in a new offense, all those things, your mind’s working so you just start to think about every little thing. The more reps you get, the more your body just goes and plays and you have that muscle memory to go through all the progressions and everything.”

Whatever Griffin needs, Grossman wants to help.

“I’m not going to overdo it,” he said, “but I want to be there as much as possible for him to bounce things off of if he doesn’t want to go to a coach.”