Fisher: RG3 has chance to be ‘very good’ QB

Remember when Mike Shanahan and RG3 were going to save the Redskins? (Getty Images)

The Rams face the Redskins Sunday in what, on paper, is a mostly meaningless game between two teams with losing records. But two and a half years ago, the Redskins traded their 2012 first- and second-round picks, as well as first-rounders in 2013 and 2014, to the Rams to move up six spots in the draft to take Robert Griffin III.

In the two years since, the Rams have parlayed those picks (either through direct selections or trading them with other teams) into the following players: defensive tackle Michael Brockers, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, running backs Isaiah Pead and Zac Stacy, linebacker Alec Ogletree, wide receiver Stedman Bailey and offensive lineman Greg Robinson.

Griffin, meanwhile, has been benched for the second time in as many seasons.

Not surprisingly, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday that he doesn't regret swinging the deal.

"(The trade) wasn't difficult for us," he told reporters. "We looked at our roster and it wasn't difficult to see that we had a lot of holes. So, it was easy for us to do."

We talked about the RG3 melodrama on a recent Eye on Football Podcast (you can subscribe here):

But Fisher stopped short of saying the trade looks like an unmitigated disaster from the Redskins' perspective.

When reminded that Griffin isn't even playing, Fisher responded (via Sports Bog): “No, he's not. But that's really not our issue. And in his defense, his rookie year, he took them to the playoffs. And any quarterback that's going to go through significant injuries like he did, and two offensive philosophy changes and scheme changes, I think that's hard. I don't believe you've seen the last of him. I don't believe that. I think he's too talented. That's their deal, (but) that's my opinion on him. I think he's got a chance to be a really good quarterback. ...

“He's just scratching the surface from a career standpoint, yeah,” Fisher continued. “Again, injuries and scheme changes are hard to overcome — for anybody, for that matter."

It looks like any stories of redemption won't come in Washington; according to a report in the Washington Post, coach Jay Gruden is done with RG3. And team sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that owner Dan Snyder, once one of Griffin's biggest supporters, is “befuddled” and “confused” at how far and how fast the quarterback has fallen.

NFL Hot News

Cardinals RB Andre Ellington's hip injury not serious, could play in Week 14



After exiting in the second quarter and not returning to Sunday's 29-18 loss to Atlanta, running back Andre Ellington was diagnosed with a hip pointer. Early reports on Monday state that the injury isn't as serious as it could be and that he could potentially return for the team's Week 14 game against Kansas City.Ellington has run for 660 yards on the season, caught 46 balls for an additional 395 yards and totaled five touchdowns. If he can't return for Week 14, expect the recently signed Michael Bush, Stepfan Taylor and Marion Grice to share the running back responsibilities.



Ellington's injury and subsequent absence from the Week 13 game are likely to have cost some fantasy owners a playoff spot. He had only run for 12 yards and had not caught a pass before leaving a game against one of the worst defenses in football.Despite averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, Ellington has still been an effective fantasy running back this season, especially in PPR leagues. Prior to Sunday, he was averaging just less than 95 total yards and just more than four receptions per game, so he's practically a lock for 12 to 14 PPR points each week.If you're still alive in your league and have Ellington, monitor his status this week. With a struggling quarterback in Drew Stanton, the Cardinals are likely to lean heavily on the running game next week against a Chiefs defense that just gave up 168 rushing yards to the Broncos' C.J. Anderson.