ANALYSIS/OPINION:
Once again, it’s time to check off some items on my “TIDU List” — Things I Don’t Understand:
• How Jay Gruden can be any clearer.
The coach has been blunt as a hammer and sharp as a razor in critiquing the would-be franchise QB Robert Griffin III. On two occasions during a news conference this week, Gruden reeled off a lengthy list of areas where RG3 needs to show major improvement, virtually everything except the pronunciation of “Hut.” And even that might be sub-par.
Gruden represented a fresh start for RG3, but it’s been downhill ever since.
• Why time served isn’t punishment enough.
SEE ALSO: Redskins’ Robert Griffin III only ‘focused on San Francisco’
As feared, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell chose to be petty and unduly punitive in ending Adrian Peterson’s season. Shaken by the NFL’s wave of domestic abuse — and the flood of criticism he earned — Goodell got it wrong on A.P. like he got it wrong on Ray Rice. A retroactive suspension for the eight games Peterson already missed would’ve sufficed for his excessive “spanking.”
Instead, Goodell comes off as a patronizing morality compass that can’t tell north from south.
• How RG3 could stink that much against Tampa Bay.
Bad games happen. While Griffin’s performance wasn’t as horrific as the historic debacle by Bengals QB Andy Dalton in Week 10, it was shockingly awful. RG3 has been hampered by injuries over his three-year career but Sunday was his 32nd start. We should be past the point where elementary fundamentals are problematic.
Gruden said the offense “looked like the first preseason game.” Rookie mini-camp is more like it.
• Why Tiger Woods highlighted a parody.
Golf Digest published a clearly labeled “fake interview” that was available only to print subscribers — until Woods responded with a column on The Players Tribune. “Did you read Dan Jenkins’ interview with me?” Woods wrote. “I hope not.” He called it “a grudge-fueled piece of character assassination.” The magazine responded by posting Jenkins’ satire online, meaning Woods’ article actually spiked readership.
If he wanted us to ignore it, he should’ve done so himself.
• How national media can get enough RG3.
Forbes ranks Dan Snyder’s team as the NFL’s third-richest, valued at $2.4 billion. But Snyder’s QB is ranked No. 1 by sports columnists, talk-show hosts and broadcasters across the country. Griffin has become a cottage industry that devours more market share each (poor) passing week. He commands lengthy segments on national TV and radio, serving as a case study, cautionary tale and character-assessment test under one helmet.
No amount of Subway sandwiches will quench this feeding frenzy.
• Why anyone is surprised about college football rankings.
Turns out the BCS wasn’t so bad after all, certainly no worse than the College Football Playoff. The more things change, the more they don’t. Folks still scream about teams that are overrated or overlooked, undeserving or unappreciated. The playoff committee exhibits the same lack of consistency found in human polls, but little of the logic found in computers.
Picking four teams instead of two has created twice as much angst.
• Why anyone would trust Jeffrey Loria.
The Marlins owner just signed Giancarlo Stanton to a 13-year, $325 million contract. It’s clear why Stanton bought into Loria’s rebuilding plan. But Marlins fans shouldn’t be suckered again, not after springing for a $639 million ballpark —– that will wind up costing taxpayers around $3 billion — only to watch Loria gut the payroll one season later.
Stanton is a big winner with his new deal but Loria is still a loser.
• How we can keep faith in RG3.
If Griffin’s descent into putridness continues unabated, true believers will go down swinging. They’ll declare that everyone and everything is to blame except the QB himself. They’ll pin it on the Shanahans, injuries, the offensive line, the media and jealous teammates. Not to say it’s impossible for RG3 to reverse course and become great, but there are more doubts than ever.
Yes, he won Offensive Rookie of the Year. So did Vince Young.
• What LeGarrette Blount was thinking.
Leaving the field early is never a good idea. Especially when you were in for one play Monday night while fellow halfback Le’Veon Bell rushed for 204 yards. Now, Bell is the NFL’s second-leading rusher and Blount is a former Steeler, cut less than 24 hours after his petulant act. There’s a reason Blount is looking for his fifth team in as many seasons.
But even 250-pounders who average 4.6 yards per carry run out of chances eventually.
• How the RG3 era can end smoothly.
Unless it’s the best-case scenario, where Griffin lives up to 2012’s advance billing and potential, we’re headed for an ugly breakup. He cost Washington a bundle and the owner is quite fond of celebrity players. Snyder will be the last to give up hope, but Gruden will force the issue if RG3 is more scrub than star.
In that case, getting anything for him beats an outright cut, but neither option is attractive.
• Deron Snyder can be reached at deronsnyder@gmail.com.
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