According to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, third-year Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has been benched for veteran journeyman Colt McCoy. If there was any doubt that Griffin was a bust before, this move officially confirms it.
As it is well known, Washington traded a huge bounty of draft picks to the St. Louis Rams trade up for Griffin back in the 2012 NFL Draft. Washington parted with their No. 6 and No. 39 overall picks in 2012 as well as their first-round picks in 2013 and 2014. The 2013 pick ended up at No. 22 while the 2014 selection was No. 2 overall.
Washington originally looked brilliant for making the trade. Griffin had a phenomenal rookie season. He completed 65.6% of his passes for 3,200 and 20 touchdowns to just five interceptions for a passer rating of 102.4. Griffin also showed off his elite mobility by rushing for 815 yards and seven touchdowns on just 120 attempts.
Then Griffin suffered a knee injury late in his rookie season and hasn't looked the same ever since. And now he's being benched for Colt McCoy.
I don't see how Griffin lasts in Washington beyond the end of this season. If they're benching him for McCoy, it's clear they're ready to move on. A number of quarterback-needy teams will undoubtedly have interest in Griffin during the offseason. He's shown potential and someone will take the gamble.
Will that team be the Philadelphia Eagles? Well, let's talk about it.
In the meantime, Eagles fans can enjoy laughing at the incompetency of a division rival.
UPDATE: Uh, what? Griffin is being benched but he's still in Washington's plans? That's not believable at all.
While Griffin is not a part of Washington's plan for Sunday's game, he still appears to be a significant part of the Redskins' long-term plan, per another source.
Yet right now, the Redskins are hitting the reset button, though it might not last long, a source cautioned as Washington has high hopes for the coming offseason.