Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was cleared Monday to join the team in practice following rehab from a reconstructive knee surgery. According to USA TODAY Sports, RG3 recently spoke about the injury, rehab and critics through a text message interview with the newspaper.
Griffin made public plans to return from ACL and LCL surgery in time for training camp. Although this is an accomplishment to be admired, Griffin is not gloating.
"No time to feel proud," he said. "Just more work and winning to do."
The Baylor product commented on how “everyone’s opinion” presented the largest obstacle during the rehab process. For example, in an interview with the Washington Post in May, former Eagles quarterback Donavan McNabb said Griffin was “doing too much.”
“It’s too much right now; it’s just too much,” said McNabb, who also played for the Redskins. “I get some of things he’s doing to draw attention to himself: the Adidas commercials, going out and enjoying the life of a young, famous NFL quarterback. I understand RG has a lot of stuff going on.
“But if you’re coming off ACL surgery, you don’t need to be having a press conference at OTAs,” continued McNabb. “Every week? Really? It becomes a circus, a sideshow. It takes away from the focus of what those sessions are supposed to be about: the team.”
"People want you to only think of yourself and your career when you are a team player," Griffin wrote in the interview with USA TODAY. "And when you are selfish, then they want you to only think of the team."
Griffin injured his knee during the first game of the NFC playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite being visibly hobbled, he stayed in the game. In the weeks following the loss to Seattle, head coach Mike Shanahan’s judgment was widely called into question.
Last week, surgeon James Andrews gave his approval and Shanahan OK’d Griffin’s return to action following quarterback drills.
This the 22-year old second knee surgery in four years (his knee was reconstructed in his sophomore year.)
Griffin will start practicing in a limited capacity. He is not allowed to participate in 11-on-11 drills but is expected to do seven-on-seven drills Wednesday when the veterans report to training camp in Richmond, Virginia.
