Washington Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III idolised John Elway and the Denver Broncos when he was a kid. The Heisman Trophy winner admitted it was a dream come true to be coached by the man that led Elway to all those Super Bowl titles.
"Growing up, I was a Bronco fan, so, you see Coach (Mike) Shanahan, and you know that that's the coach of your favorite team," Griffin told reporters on Thursday.
"So when I met him at the combine and they traded up for me, it was kind of like a dream come true to be here and play for him and his offense and the offense that I watched John Elway tear defenses up in.
"From the outside in, you're just a fan. But now that I'm on the inside, not looking out, just on the inside, I get to experience who he is.
Shanahan's reputation has taken a bit of a beating since the Elway era, but Griffin is convinced he is in good hands.
"What some former quarterbacks have said about him, to me isn't true. He seems like a great guy and I'm really looking forward to working with him. I'm sure he will put me in the best situation to succeed and help this team win."
Asked if he was the teacher's pet, Griffin said: "I'm not a teacher's pet. Like, I didn't bring him any apples, or anything. But I make it a point to make sure I see coach every day. Talk to him for at least five, 10 minutes.
"You've got to have that relationship, not only with your offensive co-ordinator but your head coach, so you guys are always on the same page."
