Polian: I'd have my scouts looking awfully hard at RGIII
By David Kenyon
If Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian were still leading a front office, Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III would be squarely on his radar.
Per ESPN’s John Keim, Polian said he would have scouts take a serious look at whether or not the beleaguered gunslinger—who tore his ACL two years ago—could help the team.
“There was a huge learning curve and that was exacerbated tremendously by the injury. Mike Shanahan smartly adjusted his offense to that which RG III could handle in his rookie year. None of that has happened since and therefore he doesn’t fit. I would say this: If I were running a club, I’d have my scouts looking awfully hard at what he might be able to do for my club.”
Polian acknowledged Griffin was a poor fit in Washington’s West Coast offense because of a simplified system at Baylor. That’s also a common criticism of 2015 New York Jets draftee Bryce Petty, who relied on quick-hitting curls, hitches, out-routes and comebacks under Art Briles.
Regardless of the troubles Griffin had progressing through multiple reads, Polian said the 25-year-old remains an appealing prospect because of his running ability.
“He does still have that unique skill set that’s tempered greatly by the injury history. The injury one has to bother you a great deal, but the bottom line is he’s still a supremely talented athlete.”
With all that being said, unless Washington flat-out releases Griffin, it’s highly unlikely any other franchise would be willing to accept Griffin’s $16.2 salary next season via trade. Back in April, Washington exercised his fifth-year option in April, so the blame for that issue rests squarely on the franchise.
Griffin deserves a chance to compete for a starting spot on an NFL team that runs a spread offense, but that opportunity probably won’t arrive until 2017.
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