Robert Griffin III Not The Answer For Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel has a higher upside than that had by Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins.

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Think about all that had to happen to get to where the entities involved are at today. It was roughly seven months ago when the National Football League world learned that Manziel had voluntarily entered a rehabilitation facility, supposedly to deal with an alcohol dependency among other issues. Manziel has, by all accounts, been an improved person and player since returning to the Browns, and he has provided multiple signs that he will one day be ready to lead the Cleveland offense during regular season play.

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Manziel is not a finished product. Far from it. The roadblocks that were standing between Manziel and success at the pro level still exist despite his newfound professionalism that may save his NFL career. Elbow pain Manziel has experienced throughout the summer is right now not much more than a nuisance, but it could become a cause for concern if it lingers through the start of the season. Manziel is currently second on the Cleveland depth chart behind veteran Josh McCown, and it may be best for the former Johnny Football to sit for all of the upcoming campaign.

With all of that said, Manziel’s stock is higher than Griffin’s, a stock which essentially no longer exists as it pertains to his Washington career.

The expected divorce involving Griffin and the Redskins was officially kicked off on the final day of August when Washington head coach Jay Gruden announced that career backup Kirk Cousins and not Griffin would be the team’s starting QB come Week 1 of the season. This news led to discussions about Griffin finding new life and a second chance with a different NFL team, which of course resulted in sports talk radio personalities and fans wondering out loud if the Browns should take a flier on the benched QB.

The Browns even considering acquiring Griffin at any point in 2015 is a terrible idea. A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea.

The version of Griffin that was a future star worthy of winning Offensive Player of the Year honors has been lost to history and to the numerous injuries that he has suffered throughout his college and pro playing days. Trouble first began brewing for Griffin when he suffered a torn ACL while at Baylor University. Since that time, Griffin has sustained damage to an ACL and LCL, he dislocated his ankle in a gruesome manner last September, and he has lost much of the electric style of play that made him such a force during his rookie campaign.

Even untrained eyes who are not experienced in watching 11-v-11 film can see that Griffin is a shell of his former self. The elusiveness that Griffin had as a star in college and years ago with the Redskins has largely disappeared, and his loss of this important trait has led to him taking numerous crunching hits during the preseason. Such repeated punishment has understandably made Griffin skittish behind an offensive line that has hung him out to dry. Griffin’s decision-making skills have deteriorated over time.

Griffin still has a tremendous arm. He put that on display when facing the Browns in August, and he would have had a deep touchdown pass but for a dropped pass. His arm may be all that Griffin has left, and a big arm alone does not make a franchise pro quarterback. Derek Anderson, who helped the Browns win ten games back in 2007, also had a strong arm when in his prime, and he never proved himself to be a consistent winner. Griffin would, at best, be second on the Cleveland depth chart behind McCown if the Browns picked him up today.

Griffin’s problems go far beyond the physical and psychological beatings he has taken during games. The stories of Griffin losing the hearts and minds of teammates have accumulated over the past couple of years. TMZ Staff reported on Monday that Washington players applauded upon learning that Cousins and not Griffin had been named the team’s starting quarterback. It is hardly a secret that Griffin (allegedly) would not be on the roster of the Redskins today if team owner Daniel Snyder did not have a say on the matter.

Say whatever you will about the dumpster fire that was Manziel’s first NFL season. Veteran members on the roster of the Browns such as Joe Haden, Joe Thomas, Donte Whitner and others have all praised Manziel since he completed a stint in rehab before rejoining the club. Manziel, unlike Griffin, showed progress during summer training camp sessions and in two preseason games. Manziel also happens to be on a relatively cheap rookie contract, and that, above anything else, is what should prevent the Browns from picking up the phone to inquire about Griffin.

The nightmare scenario for a team such as the Browns is that Griffin picks up a serious knock either during a game or a practice following a trade for the QB. Were that injury to keep Griffin off the field up through 2016, the team holding his rights would be on the hook for over $16 million of guaranteed money. Cleveland would be doing the Redskins a favor in trading even a seventh-round pick for Griffin. Add in that the Browns are not yet giving up on Manziel assuming that his elbow will be fine, and Cleveland using a roster spot on the artist formerly known as RG3 is illogical.

If anything, the Griffin debacle in Washington should serve as another life lesson for the maturing Manziel. NFL greatness and all that comes with it can disappear in a heartbeat. All indications are that Manziel, who is still just 22-years old, learned that the hard way over the past 12 months. Manziel could nevertheless use multiple reminders of how quickly he could find himself out of the NFL as he continues to work toward getting back on the field for meaningful action.

Next: Manziel Not Ready To Start

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