Regardless of his own role in the situation, Robert Griffin III must not be too pleased with his standing in Washington at the moment. Griffin, the No. 2 overall pick back in 2012, hasn't suited up for a single game despite being cleared in concussion protocol weeks ago.
To his credit, he has remained positive and supportive and has in no way been a distraction for the team. The Redskins are instead capable of losing winnable matchups all by themselves; they don't need a off-field sideshow to do it. But as a result of his RGIII's positive attitude since losing his starting job, CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports that Washington will not trade the talented yet embattled QB this season to preserve their QB depth.
"[General Manager] Scot [McCloughan] does not want to trade him," one source very familiar with the situation told La Canfora. "He really doesn't. That's not something he isn't even thinking about. He's still getting to learn about him and what he can do and what he's all about. This kid was the 2012 Rookie of the Year for a reason and you don't just fall into that stuff. He's not giving up hope on him."
With Griffin's 2016 salary of $16 million guaranteed for injury, it's doubtful that any team has even inquired about the signal-caller's availability, making McCloughan's decision to stand pat all the easier. With Griffin a few weeks removed from his concussion injury, it's entirely possible that he supplants Colt McCoy as the No. 2 quarterback. And for anyone who saw Kirk Cousins play the New York Giants on Thursday, the starting job still isn't out of the question.
Griffin has made some questionable comments to the press and on social media in the past, but he's hardly a locker room cancer. The new management in D.C. don't believe he's fracturing the team and want to keep him around just case.
"No one is mad at Robert for anything - it's nothing like that," La Canfora's source said. "Kirk got a chance to play when Robert got hurt and he won the job. But it's a long season."
Having said that, it's unknown how Griffin fits into Washington's long-term plans. If he were to play and sustain an injury that wouldn't enable him to pass a physical in March, the Redskins would be responsible for his entire 2016 salary. But with starters going down every day (Drew Brees, Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger) it's not out of the question that someone makes McCloughan an offer this season, though the chance is remote.
So RGIII will remain with the Washington Redskins for now. For better and for worse.
