Skip to main content

Why RG3 to the Browns is career suicide

The Cleveland Browns looked to start fresh at the quarterback position Thursday by signing former Redskins signal caller Robert Griffin III.

The Browns signed the former Heisman trophy winner Griffin to a two year contract worth $6.75 million in guaranteed money plus incentives according to Pro Football Talk.

The deal is a low-risk, high reward for the Browns because they get a QB who flashed superstar potential (before injuries derailed his career) and only have to pay him third string money.

It also gives them some depth at the QB position before the NFL Draft after the team finally released another former Heisman winner: Johnny Manziel.

But here's why Griffin is getting the short end of the stick.

In case you haven't heard, Cleveland has earned a reputation as a career graveyard for NFL quarterbacks.

Since the team returned to Cleveland in 1999, 22 quarterbacks have started under center for the "dawg pound." By comparison, the New England Patriots have used just three starting QB's since then (Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe, Matt Cassel).

You need at least an above average QB to win games in the NFL and the Browns haven't quite figured that out yet. Just look at Cleveland's division rivals in the AFC North. Its no coincidence the Pittsburgh Steelers (Ben Roethlisberger), Baltimore Ravens (Joe Flacco) and Cincinnati Bengals (Andy Dalton) expect to make the playoffs each season while the Browns are mired in mediocrity.

Another thing working against Griffin is that the team is in complete rebuilding mode. Now to be fair, the Browns always seem to be in rebuilding -- the team has had a top 10 selection in the draft 10 times since 1999 -- but its evident even more so this offseason.

The Browns leadership fired head coach Mike Pettine after two seasons and hired Hue Jackson to replace him.

In addition the Browns lost three key contributors on offense. The team loses two starters (Guard Alex Mack and Right Tackle Mitchell Schwartz) on the offensive line and its second leading receiver Travis Benjamin (68 catches, 966 yards, 5 TD's) left to sign a big contract with the San Diego Chargers in free agency.

Two things a quarterback loves is a good offensive line and big-play wide receivers yet the Browns are now lacking both.

What that means for Griffin is he will have less time to get rid of the ball and less talent to throw the ball to. That's a recipe for disaster for a guy trying to resurrect his career.

The latest report out of Cleveland says the team signed Griffin as an insurance policy behind a QB they plan to select in the draft, according to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole.
It would be great for the Browns and the NFL if RGIII is able to recapture the glory from his early days in Washington.

But all signs point to more struggles in Cleveland for Griffin.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

James Harden is not the real MVP

James Harden, I'ma let you finish but LeBron James is the real Most Valuable Player for the 2017-18 season. I didn't channel Kanye to diminish Harden's season or say he's unworthy of MVP, it's just that LeBron was more deserving of the award this time around. I googled the definition of "value" and this is what came up: the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. Based on that definition alone, LeBron should have won MVP in a landslide. If you were to remove him from Cleveland's roster the Cavs would have likely been a lottery team with the core of players they had. Whereas in Houston, if you took Harden off that roster, the Rockets would still have likely been in the playoff hunt with Chris Paul as the featured star.  NBA MVP James Harden poses with his mom Monja Willis during the 2018 NBA Awards in California. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) I came to this realization ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Pittsburgh Broke Code with Le'Veon Bell

If you've watched enough pro football over the years the Le'Veon Bell saga in Pittsburgh is a familiar story line. The team's star player is trying to get a new contract and has refused to show up to training camp and practice until he receives what he and his agent believes is a fair offer from the team. Bell, 26, is arguably the best and one of the most utilized running backs in the league. Even on a team with weapons like Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster, Bell still seems like the engine that makes Pittsburgh's offense go. Pittsburgh Steelers running back  Le'Veon Bell.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Usually in holdout situations like this one, the holdout player's teammates will come out in public support of their colleague that's trying to get the new money. You'll often see a quote that goes something like "We wish that he was out here with us but we understand the business side of the game....
Post a Comment
Read more

Dwyane Wade is back like he never left

The phrases seem to come right on queue. Dwyane Wade shoots a floater against the Philadelphia Sixers. Every time Dwyane Wade has had a big game lately the narrative is always the same from sportswriters and fans. "We're seeing vintage D-Wade tonight." "Wade turned back the clock with this performance." "He's playing like the D-Wade from 2006." Let's be clear, Wade, 36, is far past his prime, but let's not act surprised anymore each time he has a big game. On Monday, he single-handedly won game 2 of this playoff series for the Miami Heat. His 28 points in just 26 minutes off the bench helped Miami snap Philadelphia's 17-game winning streak and silence Kevin Hart and the raucous Philly crowd in the process. Look what you did, @KevinHart4real . pic.twitter.com/cIPwIruXyG — ESPN (@espn) April 17, 2018 Bad stints in Chicago and Cleveland caused fans to forget just what Wade is capable of: playing clutch in big games. ...
Post a Comment
Read more