Editor’s Note: LWOS is always looking to add passionate sports fans to the team. We are happy to have Sean Malloy join the #LastWordArmy. Sean will be covering the Washington Redskins.
Today Robert Griffin III tweeted that, “Doctors cleared me to practice. Coach is going to ease me in. Thank you for your support; See you in Richmond.”
To be safe, he also said in his tweet that Shanahan was going to “ease” him in, just to stop everyone from jumping in and saying that Shanahan is rushing him back too early.
For those who have taken to social media to claim RGIII is being rushed back, I mush strongly disagree. The time table for the injury according to team doctors and world renowned knee surgeon Dr. James Andrews is 8 to 12 months, which is only a month early. It is not that uncommon for an athlete to return 7 months post-surgery.
The Redskins are going to take there time with Griffin III because they know where a healthy RGIII can take them (NFC East Champions), and Griffin III is a different person when healthy.
Let’s stop blaming the read option for hurting him. Yes, he got hit a lot more than he should have, but the read option is not to blame as it was designed to help protect the quarterback. In the read option, the quarterback decides based on what the defense gives him, what to do with the ball, whether he will keep it and run, or hand it off to the running back. It is designed to keep the quarterback safe because if a defender is coming towards him, he can get rid of the ball in a hurry.
Let’s remember that Griffin III got hurt on a designed pass play when he chose to tuck the ball and scramble. Griffin knows his body better than anyone else, and he knows when he is fully healed. We certainly cannot hold his stubbornness against him. He was trying to demonstrate his leadership by leaving everything he had on the field – isn’t that what we teach young players going through Pop Warner, high school and college ball?
And let’s not blame Shanahan for Griffin III’s injury either. Shanahan asked Griffin III several times if he was okay to play, to which Griffin responded “yes”. As a coach if your player says he can play, then he plays, unless doctors rule him unavailable. Griffin’s injury was a freak accident that happens due of the nature of the game.
Mike Jones tweeted “Andrews recommended Redskins clear Griffin then Shanahan tested griffin in Ashburn this morning and cleared him, source said.”
What everyone seems to miss is that Griffin stated in his tweet that he was going to be eased back in to practice, Mike Jones also tweeted “RGIII will go through all 7-on-7 work in practices but not much team stuff right away source says.”
The Washington Redskins are taking every precaution they can to make sure That Griffin III is completely healthy by the start of the season. So are the Redskins and Griffin III rushing it? absolutely not. What more can the team do but trust the player and the doctor, both of which say he’s fit?
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