Robert Griffin III: Father is ‘a big reason that I am where I am today’

RICHMOND — Robert Griffin III spent some time after the Washington Redskins had finished their training camp practice on Monday throwing passes with his father, Robert Griffin Jr., standing in front of him.

Griffin said Tuesday that the time spent together on the field was reminiscent of the days when they would throw passes and work on football drills together.

“He’s a big reason that I am where I am today,” Griffin said. “He taught me everything that I know, and just to have him out here and enjoy this process of being a quarterback in the NFL, a starting quarterback for one of the premier franchises in the league, is something that he needs to enjoy, too.

“I know he shies away from a lot of stuff because of what’s been said in the past, but we just can’t worry about that. I want him to be out here. I want him to enjoy that, and as long as the coaches in the organization don’t have a problem with him being around me, he is my dad, so there’s nothing that we’re doing that’s stepping on anybody’s toes.”

The two threw passes for no more than 15 minutes on Monday, with Griffin’s father standing in front of Griffin with his arms raised in the air.

Griffin has been criticized over the years for his parents’ consistent presence at team events, but he said Tuesday that he recognizes there’s a place for their involvement.

“I’m not going to say, ’Can my dad come into meetings?’ because that’s not his place,” Griffin said, “but if the coaches are gone and I want to get a little bit extra work in and my dad comes to one practice out of a thousand and I say, ’Hey, Dad, put your hands up, I’m going to throw over you,’ I don’t think that’s too big of a deal. It’s just me trying to get better.”