The Cleveland Browns are in a troublesome spot on the quarterback place following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending damage. Rookie fifth-round choose Dorian Thompson-Robinson will begin Sunday towards the Pittsburgh Steelers, whereas veteran PJ Walker is the backup.
Cleveland additionally brings in veteran Joe Flacco for a exercise on Friday in an effort to doubtlessly strengthen the backup place.
However former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III has a greater thought for the Browns on the place: signal him.
Griffin appeared on the most recent episode of his podcast RG3 and One and advocated for the Browns to signal him to the roster, reuniting him with the Browns as soon as once more in his profession.
“They’ve two quarterbacks they will flip to. One is DTR, UCLA rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and the opposite is PJ Walker. However I am right here to let you know that they’ve a 3rd possibility, and that is your son. The Browns ought to signal me as their beginning quarterback,” Griffin stated, in keeping with the video by way of the YouTube web page of his podcast, RG3 and One. “And this is why: First, at 33 years outdated, I perceive the sport higher than I ever have in my whole profession. I understand how to slip and I do know when to slip, and that was a giant deal in my eight years within the NFL.
‘However I’ve discovered. I’ve discovered from my errors and am prepared to point out that I could make it occur.”
A former No. 2 general choose by Washington within the 2012 NFL Draft, Griffin got here on sturdy in his first season, successful the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Yr whereas main Washington to the playoffs. However he suffered a severe knee damage that season after being injured on a late slide in the course of the common season. In opposition to Seattle within the playoffs that yr, Griffin tore his ACL and, for essentially the most half, was by no means the identical.
He flamed out after that, shedding his beginning job to Kirk Cousins after which spending a yr in Cleveland in 2016 earlier than spending the ultimate three seasons of his profession in Baltimore, serving to mentor Lamar Jackson.
Now he needs that chance once more, particularly since he believes he nonetheless has the bodily instruments.
“All they wanted was him [Watson] what we needed to do was handle the sport because of the canines that they had there in protection, beginning with Myles Garrett. Nicely, guess what? I can try this. I can exit and handle a sport for the Cleveland Browns and assist them make the Tremendous Bowl run that they wish to proceed,” Griffin added on why he needs the Browns to signal him. “However this is the second factor. I nonetheless run a 4.3 40 individuals, and I can throw the soccer 80 yards. I practice like an NFL soccer participant each week so I may be ready for moments like these.
“So that they have to be hitting my line.”
Griffin remains to be in fine condition and has run a 4.3 40 yard sprint lately. He can nonetheless throw the soccer greater than 70 yards and practices weekly, as he stated.
He is solely 33 years outdated and whereas he hasn’t performed a lot soccer since 2020, he nonetheless has the athleticism and bodily attributes to play the place within the NFL.
Griffin can also be okay with not being a starter in Cleveland this time. He simply needs an opportunity to be a mentor once more, particularly to a younger quarterback like Thompson-Robinson, utilizing his expertise to assist the younger quarterback rise up to hurry and develop within the NFL.
And the third factor for me is, if Dorian Thompson-Robinson turns into their man and so they do not convey me in as a starter, then they need to convey me in as a backup so I can assist him in the identical method. that I helped Lamar Jackson,” Griffin added, in keeping with the video by way of the present’s YouTube web page. “I discovered six fouls in eight years within the NFL. Nobody needs to speak about it, however studying a brand new offense has by no means been an issue for me.
“I can assist DTR along with his decision-making on when to make sure performs and actually perceive what he must do as a quarterback with a protection like that on the opposite facet of the soccer. So Cleveland, I have been there earlier than and I do not really feel like I actually have the correct amount of time to make it as much as you. So let’s do it now and go to the Tremendous Bowl collectively.”
Griffin definitely makes some good factors about why he needs Cleveland to present him one other shot, particularly in gentle of Watson’s damage information. He is a man who picks up fouls fairly rapidly, nonetheless seems to be in nice form and in addition has expertise in Cleveland.
Odds are the Browns will not make the decision, particularly after bringing Joe Flacco in for a exercise on Friday, however the supply is on Griffin’s desk. The Browns need assistance on the QB place, so we’ll see what their solutions are there.
