Redskins coach Jay Gruden said Monday that “the jury is still out” on the team’s quarterback situation. But if Robert Griffin III were a one-man jury, the verdict would be in.
Before leaving Redskins Park to begin the bye week, Griffin said Tuesday he still believes he is Washington’s long-term answer at quarterback. Though many view the final seven weeks of the regular season as a period to evaluate Griffin, the third-year quarterback said these games will be no different than usual.
“I understand that everybody has a criticism, but you have to prove yourself every day, day in and day out, in this league, in life in general,” Griffin said. “I do take that mindset toward it, but when it comes to being the franchise guy, that is what it is. I believe that I am. I believe that this organization knows that I am, and I know those guys in the locker room believe that I am. There’s no doubt there, so I don’t ever step onto the field trying to make a claim saying ’I’m the guy.’ No, it’s not like that. This is my team and I’m going to lead it.”
Griffin reclaimed his starting job Sunday in Minnesota, completing 18 of 28 passes for 251 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 29-26 loss to the Vikings. Though he showed flashes of brilliance, including a 56-yard pass to DeSean Jackson and an impressive scramble out of pressure leading to a completion in the first half, Griffin’s performance was ultimately mixed.
Though he has only played nine quarters so far this season because of a dislocated ankle, Griffin still has much to show Gruden, the coach said.
“The jury is still out on that position,” Gruden said. “But we feel good about Robert’s progress so far and we’ve just got to continue to build and see how he does from week-to-week-to-week and hopefully we can see that here at the end of the season. That’s what we have to see and that’s what we have to find out.”
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Griffin said he understood why Gruden made that comment and did not take it personally.
“I think what he’s saying is, ’Coming into this year, everybody has got a clean slate. Everybody has got to prove why they should be here, why they should be out there and have the opportunity to make play.’ And I haven’t been out there,” Griffin said. “Availability is the key, so my job is to continue to go out there, get better each week, help this team win football games and the rest will take care of itself. So, I don’t take that in any kind of way negatively.”
Gruden said he saw both positives and negatives in Griffin’s performance after reviewing the film from Sunday’s game, while Griffin declined to evaluate himself at the podium. “I am not going to do that in front of you guys,” he said.
Griffin plans to spend the bye week with his wife and “get some time away from the game.” When he and the rest of the team return early next week, the Redskins will try to replicate the season-ending winning streak that vaulted to the playoffs in 2012. Despite their 3-6 record, Griffin said the Redskins have not lost focus.
“We want to win games,” he said. “We want to be an organization that consistently wins, and we are going to figure that out. I know not many people might not believe that. Many people in this room might not believe that. They might not believe we might not have the leadership on this team to be successful. But we do, and that’s all that matters: what we believe and what we go out and do. And we have to prove it. We know that.”
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
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