Multiple sources within Washington's organization believe it is a forgone conclusion former starting quarterback Robert Griffin III will not back be back with the team in 2015, with the disconnect between him and the team's decision-makers growing so great, and the desire to retain him so scant, that an offseason divorce is inevitable.
The division between Griffin and the team -- the weekly stories of his leadership and the endless gossip -- and his being benched for the final month of the season for the second straight year, by two different head coaches, have left the situation beyond repair, the sources believe, with a trade the most likely end-game. Griffin has become damaged goods, mentally and physically, in Washington after a tumultuous three seasons there since the team gave up a ransom of draft picks to move up and select him second overall, and with him no longer beloved by owner Dan Snyder, and receiving anything but an endorsement from coach Jay Gruden, and Colt McCoy viewed as a better option right now, bringing him back would only further pollute the situation.
Other executives around the league, contacted privately for their thoughts on the situation, almost unanimously agreed the Redskins would trade him (though one posited, with the trade value likely to be so low, Snyder and general manager Bruce Allen would opt to keep Griffin rather than face the ignominy of dealing so cheaply after parting with three first-round picks to land him).
Of the five evaluators contacted about Griffin, one believed Washington might be able to get a conditional third-round pick for him, two believed a fourth-rounder was fair value, one said a fifth-round pick and one suggested a sixth-round pick that moves as high as a fourth-rounder based on how much and how well Griffin plays with his new team.
Is an offseason divorce between the Redskins and Robert Griffin III inevitable? (USATSI)
Griffin is set to make $3.3 million in 2015, the final year of his rookie deal, with the potential for a team to execute his fifth-year option for 2016, at the hefty price of likely over $16 million. There will be, as always, a good number of teams in the market for quarterbacks, with the Bucs, Jets, Rams, Bills, Texans, among those likely looking for starters, while quarterback-minded coaches like Andy Reid and Chip Kelly are always looking for developmental projects to bring along and rebuild.
These executives all believed there would be a market for Griffin, but, given his history of injuries, declining production, clashes with coaches, locker room issues and higher salary -- and with other teams assuming the Redskins might ultimately release him rather than continue this dysfunction -- they would have limitations on how much they would be willing to part with to land him.
NFL Hot News
Former Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice wins appeal
Free agent running back Ray Rice has won the appeal of his suspension and has officially been reinstated to the NFL. Rice is now eligible to sign with any team. Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USJAX-NONE /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Rice was suspended indefinitely after video evidence of him hitting his then-fianceacute;e was released to the public. The act led to the NFL suspending the three-time Pro Bowler indefinitely for violation of the league's personal conduct policy.
Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USJAX-NONE /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The 27-year-old RB must have sighed in relief when the judge ruled in his favor today. Rice, whose career was in jeopardy, is now cleared to sign with any NFL team. Finding a suitor will be a major task as the team that signs him will likely have to deal with a public relations nightmare. Rice may get his second chance, but he will not be on the fantasy radar this season. Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USJAX-NONE /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
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