Robert Griffin III represented himself well in visit with Browns, Jets

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Hue Jackson and the Cleveland Browns know they need a quarterback. Beyond the obvious, the situation is convoluted but Jackson is not in a rush to figure it out. As he embarks on his first season as the Browns’ coach, he’s committed to fully vetting his options.

“This is what I’m accustomed to,” Jackson said. “It’s not a race. It’s about making sure you get the right guy. There’s always conversations that need to be had and after you have those, you have more. There’s always layers of stuff. It’s not just the football player, it has to be the right fit. It’s not just the quarterback, it’s the face of the franchise.”

Part of that process included hosting a visit with former Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, which took place last Friday and Saturday.

Speaking at the NFL’s annual league meeting on Tuesday, Jackson said he felt the interview went well but said nothing is decided yet.

Griffin was cut on March 7, a move that was long expected once it became clear the team was moving forward with Kirk Cousins as the starter. The Redskins picked up Griffin’s fifth-year option last April and would have had to pay him $16.2 million if they kept him on the roster in 2016. The 2012 offensive rookie of the year was inactive for all but one game last season and will try to resurrect his career elsewhere.

“I think we all know he’s a talented player,” Jackson said. “He’s a good person. Good young man. This past year he didn’t play and I think he learned a lot, humbled himself a little bit. He has a lot of work to do ahead of him to get himself back to where he was and I think he’s willing to do the work. He’s trying to find a football team that best fits him and we’ll see how that goes.”

One of the biggest questions about Griffin is what level he can play at after not playing a snap in a regular-season game last season. He struggled in 2013 after undergoing surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right knee. In 2014, Griffin missed six games after dislocating his ankle.

During a Redskins preseason game against the Detroit Lions, Griffin sustained a concussion and Cousins was emerged as the starter at the end of August.

What is equally as important is how Griffin handles himself as he tries to bounce back from a difficult situation.

“Our visit was very informative, Jackson said. “A lot of dialogue back in forth. A lot of tough questions asked, a lot of tough questions answered. I don’t baby people. It’s not who I am. I ask tough questions and I expect tough answers and he handled all that. At the same time, nothing is decided. But I felt better about him because he answered some questions I asked and represented himself well.”

Griffin also visited the New York Jets and coach Todd Bowles echoed Jackson’s sentiment and called it a “good first visit.”

“He’s a football historian, very bright guy,” Bowles said. “He’s a competitor. You don’t gain too much having dinner with somebody other than pleasantries.”