Another slow start on Sunday from quarterback Robert Griffin III didn't help as the Washington Redskins fell to the Green Bay Packers, 38-20. With Griffin not looking like Griffin, the Redskins could opt to bench him for Kirk Cousins if the team loses again. Griffin, meanwhile, is willing to do whatever it takes to get the season turned around - even if it means being an "a-hole" to his teammates.
The offense didn't come alive on Sunday until midway through the third quarter. After stagnant start, which resulted in a 28-0 first-half shutout by the Packers, the offense managed to put 20 points on the scoreboard, albeit too little too late. Griffin finished 26-of-40 for 320 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
After the game, Griffin took the blame for the offense's slow start. He also said he's willing to change the way he leads if it helps the team turn around its season.
"If those guys want me to go out there and be the stern leader then I can do that," Griffin said, via RealRedskins.com. "I got some of that from some of my teammates on the sideline asking me to do some more things. Not necessarily change who I am as a person but if they want me to be hard on them, I'll be hard on them."
Griffin added: "I just, you know, I'm not an a-hole. I believe in positive reinforcement. If something happens, I know he'll make it up the next time he gets that chance. And that's just the way I lead. If they want me to do that, you know, I'm fine with doing that ... If that's what we need to get over this hump, to move forward and start winning games I'm definitely going to do that."
In the wake of Washington's second straight loss, NBC's "Sunday Night Football" analysts Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy discussed the possibility of the Redskins benching Griffin should the team falls to 0-3 after next week.
If Griffin remains ineffective, there is the possibility coach Mike Shanahan tries to save the season by benching Griffin and starting Cousins.
It's a terrible idea.
Despite missing the entire preseason and being only eight months removed from major knee surgery, he's looked better than expected and showed improvement from last week.
It took until Week 4 last season for Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to break his first 100-yard game. Griffin has rust, and he still has the mental hurdle to get over of regaining trust in his knee. It's going to take more than two games for Griffin to look like Griffin again.
The reigning Rookie of the Year can be blamed for the offensive woes, but not for the 38-point onslaught the Packers delivered - the Redskins' secondary got picked apart, and the defense all but rolled over.
Benching Griffin would not only delay his return to form, it'd create nasty drama in Washington. We saw the back-and-forth between Griffin and Shanahan during the offseason with regard to Griffin's return - what would happen if Griffin was forced to sit? He wouldn't be happy, he'd passively let the world know about it and it could create an irreparable rift between coach and quarterback.
Shanahan chose to start Griffin for Week 1 - it's too late to have a change of heart. For better or worse, the Redskins owe it to Griffin to ride out the season with him under center.
