The discussions around Robert Griffin III will not stop. Regardless of what the Washington Redskins say about the quarterback, people will wonder what the big picture is for Griffin along with Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. Entering the season, it was supposed to be Griffin as the starter. Now, Cousins is the starter and despite one poor game, the Redskins are keeping him at the top spot. However, that does not mean Griffin is going anywhere any time soon.
With Cousins coming off a bad game against the New York Giants, many expected Griffin to get some looks for the starting job in Week 4. However, after head coach Jay Gruden once again stressed that Cousins would remain under center, the trade rumors for Griffin popped up. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, the Redskins have no plans of trading or releasing Griffin and he will be on the roster come the November 3 trade deadline.
This will either thrill or anger Redskins fans who are very aware of everything Washington gave up to get the quarterback. However, the Redskins feel it is better to have Griffin on the roster than off. La Canfora writes that general manager Scot McCloughan likes Griffin and wants him on the roster. Washington has not made any calls trying to trade him and will not in the future either.
Griffin's $16 million salary in 2016 puts the Redskins in a tough spot. The team picked up the quarterback's fifth-year option in the offseason and no team will be interested in taking on that contract especially with Griffin's stats and injury history. The quarterback's recent concussion is what got him benched this season, but torn ACLs and dislocated ankles are also on the list making Griffin tough to deal away even if the Redskins wanted to.
Gruden is stressing patience with Cousins. The head coach likes the quarterback for his offensive system and is simply waiting for him to develop more. That means Cousins will be on the field for Week 4.
"He has to play through some of these pitfalls. We're hoping that he does," Gruden said, via ESPN.com. "We're hoping a more mature Kirk Cousins will bounce back from these performances. He did some great things, but there are some plays he needs to make to be a starting QB in the NFL and he will make. We just have to have patience and understand there will be rough times with a young quarterback."
If Cousins is going to excel, he needs the rest of his supporting cast to step up as well. The quarterback is hoping to have DeSean Jackson back soon from a hamstring injury. Alfred Morris and Matt Jones struggled heavily in Week 3 while Pierre Garcon and Jordan Reed were the only two receivers to make any impact on the field. Gruden is going to stick with his current player personnel which could mean either a turnaround after a bad game or a long season in Washington.
