Even the casual fan could see that there was tension between Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins after his rookie season in 2012 when he threw for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. RGIII was about as dynamic of a player as you could get coming out of the college ranks and appeared to be worthy of the second overall pick in the 2012 draft until a series of knee injuries derailed his young career.
13 games into his rookie season he suffered an LCL sprain in his knee but continued to play in that Week 14 game. After sitting out Week 15, he would play the final two weeks of the season before ultimately suffering a torn Torn LCL, ACL, and Meniscus in the NFC Wild Card game.
(2011) RG3's tipped pass leads to an 87 yard touchdown. Crazy. @RGIII pic.twitter.com/3ovCcd8tzP
— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) September 14, 2017
His explosiveness and speed clearly were diminished after that injury as his knees continued to be a problem in the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
On Wednesday, his former teammate Santana Moss brought up RGIII’s situation with the team and went on a rant about how poorly the former No. 2 overall pick handled himself in adversity.
“You can’t do that,” Moss said to 106.7 The Fan. “One thing I’ll just share with you: God don’t like ugly. So the little credit that he did take for saying that, ‘Hey, they didn’t like what I was doing,’ or ‘they benched me and not allowing me to play, that’s what happens.’ So 2014 comes, and Jay Gruden comes in, and he don’t care. We see that now. He doesn’t care. He doesn’t care what he says about you, he doesn’t care what he says at you. And he rips RG every chance he gets, like every meeting, and we’re sitting there looking like, ‘Yeah. You know what? You were just so happy that Mike and Kyle and them is gone, but now you’re getting your behind ripped every day, because you’re not playing the kind of football that we need to play for us to be successful.’”
“So 2014 comes, and Jay Gruden comes in, and he don’t care. We see that now. He doesn’t care. He doesn’t care what he says about you, he doesn’t care what he says at you. And he rips RG every chance he gets, like every meeting, and we’re sitting there looking like, ‘Yeah. You know what? You were just so happy that Mike and Kyle and them is gone, but now you’re getting your behind ripped every day, because you’re not playing the kind of football that we need to play for us to be successful.’”
RGIII – who hasn’t been signed to a team for the 2017 season – fired back on Twitter, calling Moss FAKE NEWS:
No subtweeting needed
Santana Moss, I treat you like a brother & have always had your back. To openly lie about me is a betrayal…..— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 19, 2017
Been lied on a lot over the years
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 19, 2017
Put in an impossible situation w/ a coach who never wanted me. Made players like Santana Moss a believer through hard work, film study…
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 19, 2017
Showing up early, leaving late, putting in the extra hours, staying after practice & getting extra work in. We won the division that year.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 19, 2017
Next year coach wants out, says he wants out, says he never wanted me as his QB & I GET BLAMED? C'mon man. I have been the good soldier.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 19, 2017
Some so desperately want me to fit this negative narrative that has been pushed about me. But I don't fit it. Never have. Never will.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 19, 2017
Proved it in Cleveland. Voted Captain. Came back to play for my teammates just to help us win 1 game. With a broken shoulder. Stop the lies
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 19, 2017
There should be partial sympathy for RGIII, given the fact that he’s probably not lying when he said that Kyle Shanahan didn’t want him as a quarterback in the first place. If that is the case then there is some awful communication between the front office and coaching staff of the Redskins organization.
And injuries are something RGIII couldn’t have prevented, especially when guys are aiming at his lower half when tackling. Another blunder by the front office was letting RGIII play those final games of the 2012 regular season when they should have put him on the shelf and looked towards the future – instead of being in a ‘win now’ mode.
One thing RGIII could have left out was the final tweet about the Browns and becoming a starting QB and team captain for them. Let’s be honest, any second-string NFL quarterback could become a starter on the Browns.
"The Browns are a Dumpster Fire" has to be one of the catchiest songs to begin 2017. 🔥🏈 pic.twitter.com/cMyP3fuR0P
— Dylan (@DylansFreshTake) January 5, 2017
But to go back to the start of all of this, Santana Moss has no business talking about this. These events are five years old at this point and are ultimately irrelevant. Quite frankly it’s more disappointing than anything that he’s got nothing better to do in retirement than bring up soap opera-worthy stories from the past.
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