When the air was flush with hope and humidity at Redskins training camp in Richmond, Robert Griffin III was portrayed as a hero. A Gatorade promotion had turned Griffin into an ink-stained miracle worker in a comic book titled, “Triple impact.” Griffin was touted for his brain, arm and legs.
Griffin signed endless amounts of autographs at camp. Even when he stepped back into what was supposed to be the solidarity of the Redskins’ complex, fans screamed his name and hounded him for one more signature. One goaded him into a final signing by claiming it was the birthday of the fan’s child.
What followed was a calamitous season filled with injuries, erratic play and internal tensions. The spotlight remained on Griffin when he played and when he was hurt. It followed him off the field after the season’s final stain, a four-quarter display of inability during a 44-17 loss to the playoff-bound Dallas Cowboys.
“It’s been a real long year,” Griffin said. “It’s been a tough year. A lot of adversity and a lot of things you can’t control.”
Griffin’s final totals can breed deception. Over nine games, his 68.7 percent completion rate is the highest of his career. But, he was stripped down from a producer of big plays to the manager of quick outs and dump-offs.
Sunday, oddly, resulted in his only 300-yard plus passing game of the season. Griffin was 27-for-41 for 336 yards, bolstered by longs runs from DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon after short throws. Screens into the slot, shallow connections over the middle. These were plays being usedSunday against the Cowboys in an offense that had all the pizazz of a potato.
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A week after a bubbly appraisal of Griffin’s performance, Redskins coach Jay Gruden was back to noncommittal deliveries.
“I’ve got to check out the film,” Gruden said.
Griffin’s four touchdowns and six interceptions on the season speak more to the feeling when leaving FedEx Field for a final time in 2014. He threw two interceptions Sunday. One a point-blank error on fourth down a play after tight end Logan Paulsen dropped a would-be third-down conversion. Paulsen’s drop followed by Griffin’s interception encapsulated a bungling Redskins season. The second was tipped into the air by wide receiver Andre Roberts. Griffin also fumbled after being sacked. The Cowboys took that loose ball into the end zone for a touchdown.
Speculation about Griffin’s future in Washington persisted throughout the season. The time to decide about what to do with him officially began when Griffin jogged off the field encircled by the tan vests of videographers. Six television cameras followed him. Boos and cheers trailed his departure.
Gruden has appeared equal parts frustrated, befuddled and irritated during his first season. His public undressing of Griffin resonates as one of the stunning moments of a season awash in failings. Gruden said the offseason will need to include a “total team retool.” That could entail a reboot of what is happening at quarterback.
“We haven’t had that discussion or cleared the air on any of that kind of stuff,” Griffin said. “My focus is I want to be here. I want to be here to help this team win, try to turn this thing around and change the culture around here. That’s my only focus. And if coach Jay and this organization wants me to be around, then, I’ll be here. I’ll be ready to go. I’ll make that will happen.”
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Asked to list what he needs to personally do better, Griffin chose to not answer. On the screed of Griffin criticisms from this season was that he did not take responsibility for his failures. Sunday, he said needs to make improvements, saying he has a “laundry list” of offseason things to work on. Though, he would not specify. One thing Griffin appears to have learned this season is the combustible weight his words carry. As a result, his interaction with the media includes fewer specifics and words.
“That’s not something I’m going to sit up here and talk about,” Griffin said. “It’s not my job to self-critique myself or to critique anybody, as I learned.”
Lack of clarity shrouds the Redskins quarterback situation. Kirk Cousins struck for big plays — he finished the season with more passing yards than Griffin despite fewer attempts — mixed with disastrous turnovers. Colt McCoy won in Dallas, was the starter, then injured his neck. He has 25 career touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
“More than anything I want to compete,” Cousins said. “You come into this league and you want to compete. When I was drafted, I was told there was no competition. That’s the way it’s been. That’s what I’ve known.”
Griffin said his offseason work will include quarterback consultant Terry Shea. That he will be around Redskins Park. He expects to work with teammates in the offseason. He feels that getting back to work is the only remedy to another lost season.
“We’ll fix this problem,” Gruden said. “That’s a promise. There’s not anything we can say between now and the next time we have an actual live game that’s going to change that. We have to prove it on the field.”
He acknowledged with a light touch the doubt around his future in Washington, twice saying he would like to stay. Griffin concluded by saying he appreciated everyone and wishing them happy holidays.
No cartoonists appeared to be in the press conference. This was a non-fiction story.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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