Cleveland Browns Spark Magic with Robert Griffin III
By Dan Salem
The Cleveland Browns have finally sparked magic by adding quarterback Robert Griffin III. No risk and a huge reward awaits the Browns’ offense in 2016. Light that fire!
Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.
TODD:
Yea or nay on the Cleveland Browns signing of quarterback Robert Griffin III? This is it; it’s time to take a stand.
I’m in the Yea camp, which, incidentally is a very silly-sounding statement to make about anything. But count me as a believer in the transaction. Mind you, I was very careful in the way I worded that. I am not necessarily a believer in Robert Griffin III, but the transaction made a ton of sense.
First off, Griffin was a failure in Washington. He showed tremendous promise and had that amazing rookie season, but injuries and a bad attitude/personality ended that relationship despite the hefty haul it took to acquire him. Cleveland paid no such hefty price. This is essentially a no-risk move for the Browns. They got him as a free agent for a two-year, $15 million contract (via Spotrac) just $1.75 million of which is guaranteed after this coming season. They will give him the chance to compete for the starting quarterback job this season, and if he fails again, there is hardly any cost.
And they are certainly just giving him a chance to compete. There is no job awaiting Griffin. Any playing time he gets will be earned, which is another bonus Cleveland has in this scenario. There are no longer expectations surrounding Griffin’s game because of the prolonged demise.
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I remain dubious that RGIII can get back to the point where he is a useful starting quarterback, let alone a star again in this game. He will also be playing with a less-than-stellar supporting cast to boot. This marriage is double-sided. The Browns aren’t sure of Griffin’s ceiling, but Griffin should also be weary of the team around him.
That combination doesn’t bode well for 2016, but again, it doesn’t make the acquisition any less fruitful. It was worth the risk because the risk was hardly worth anything.
DAN:
Cleveland is in full-on rebuilding mode this season, but RGIII can provide a nice spark to this young and hungry offense. Or maybe he won’t, but I agree that the risk of signing him was well worth it for the Browns. They didn’t have a reliable starting quarterback before Griffin joined the team. The odds they now do goes up with him competing to start.
Josh McCown still has an excellent chance of winning first team duties for Cleveland. With Griffin pushing him in training camp, both players should elevate their games and McCown’s track record favors him coming out on top. But I’d love to see Griffin discover some of his old magic and steal the starting quarterback job for this team. It’s a short term gig, no matter who holds it this season. Ultimately Cleveland hopes rookie Cody Kessler out of UCS develops into the team’s future number one guy.
With no bonafide starting QB, the Browns were right to bring in Griffin. McCown has appeared best suited to play backup of late, as has RGIII. To me this feels like slow and steady versus fast and flashy. The addition of rookie receiver Corey Coleman out of Baylor gives Griffin a golden opportunity to find magic with his fast and flashy style. Creating chemistry with the Browns’ new first round pick can easily catch opponents off guard. No one expects much pop out of Cleveland’s offense to start the season.
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The running game can’t be relied on to carry this team, so everyone will indeed look to Griffin and Coleman to lead the way, if he does in fact secure starting quarterback duties. It was a shrewd move by the Browns to grab a potentially dynamic player for very little cost.