Tag: Robert Griffin III

Former Ravens QB to join Netflix’ studio coverage of NFL Christmas Day doubleheader

Former Ravens QB Robert Griffin III to join Netflix’ studio coverage of the NFL Christmas Day doubleheader the Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans games

After signing a three-year deal with the league to host two Christmas Day games in 2024 and one game per holiday over the next three years, Netflix is now officially an NFL streaming giant.

According to Front Office Sports, Robert Griffin III will join NFL Network analyst and former Notre Dame star Manti Te’o, ESPN analyst Mina Kimes, and former Saints quarterback Drew Brees as analysts for pre-and post-game shows during the Christmas Day doubleheader. They will handle the pre-game and post-game analysis and downtime between the two games.

Kay Adams, host of FanDuel’s Up & Adams, is expected to lead studio coverage from a set in Los Angeles.

Griffin, who ESPN laid off in a cost-cutting move in August, spent three years with the Ravens, playing in 14 games, logging 288 yards passing, one touchdown, and four interceptions.

Netflix announced the Ravens and Texans will play in a rematch of last season’s AFC divisional round matchup following the Kansas City Chiefs’ massive matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Baltimore defeated Houston twice last season.

The first meeting was a 25-9 Ravens win in the season opener, and the second was a dominant 34-10 win in the AFC Divisional Round game that catapulted Baltimore to the AFC Championship game.

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Larry Brown named Commanders’ Legend of the Game for Week 13

A true Washington legend.

This week, the Commanders have a real legend of the game.

Sunday’s home game at Northwest Stadium will see former Washington Redskins running back Larry Brown honored as the legend of the game.

Brown was drafted 191 overall in the 1969 NFL draft by the Redskins. He had been primarily a fullback at Kansas State, so his running ability was not widely known. Brown had been a blocker and running only in short-yard situations, so not even Brown himself knew what would transpire when he became Washington’s starting halfback in his rookie season.

Head coach Vince Lombardi noticed Brown was always a step slow at the snap of the ball and ordered a hearing test. Sure enough, he was impaired in one ear, so Lombardi, with the NFL’s approval, had a hearing aid inserted into Brown’s helmet.

Brown flourished immediately, starting 13 of his 14 games in the 1969 season and gaining 888 yards on his 202 carries (4.4 YPC). It was in his second season that everyone in the NFL realized that Larry Brown was not only a starting halfback but also one of the most aggressive running backs in the league.

Brown led the NFL in 1970, averaging 86.5 rushing yards a game and also gaining 1,125 rushing yards. As a result, he was voted NFL All-Pro First Team.

A daring, slashing runner, Brown rushed for over 5,000 yards in his first five seasons in the NFL (the NFL played 14-game seasons from 1961 to 1978). At the peak of his career, Brown led the NFL in 1972, averaging 101.3 rushing yards per game and gaining 1,216 yards in 12 games. He also led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage that season with 1,689 yards.

He was rested the last two games as the Redskins had already clinched their division with an 11-1 record. As a result, Brown was voted the Associated Press MVP for the 1972 season.

However, Brown began suffering debilitating knee injuries that slowed him down in 1974-76. He barely played his final season, not starting any games, and was battered and beaten down. He only carried the ball 20 times in his last season, retiring after the 1976 season.

He officially was a Redskin for eight seasons, gaining 5,875 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns. Brown was also a very adept receiver out of the backfield, on the receiving end of 238 receptions for 2,485 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns.

How good was Larry Brown? No Washington player has yet to wear No. 43 since Brown retired from the NFL.

The Commanders have been naming former players as “legends” of the home games this 2024 season. Last week, they came under understandable scrutiny when they named Robert Griffin III the legend of the game, though Griffin only had one successful NFL season.

There will be no scrutiny this week. Larry Brown was a stud, a workhorse. Larry Brown is a true Washington Redskins “legend.”

Robert Griffin III is Washington’s Legend of the Game vs. Cowboys

Robert Griffin III is Washington’s Legend of the Game for Week 12.

The Washington Commanders announced a “Legend of the Game” for every home game this season. The last time out, it was former linebacker LaVar Arrington. The No. 2 overall pick from the 2000 NFL draft had been at odds with the organization for years due to former owner Dan Snyder.

On Sunday, the Commanders host the Dallas Cowboys, and this week’s “legend” is former quarterback Robert Griffin III. Like Arrington, Griffin is also a former No. 2 overall pick (2012).

Griffin is best known for his magical rookie season, where he led the then-Redskins to an NFC East title under the leadership of Mike and Kyle Shanahan.

However, things went south quickly in 2013, and Griffin’s career in Washington was never the same. He played three more seasons in Washington before one year in Cleveland and three in Baltimore as a backup to Lamar Jackson.

Perhaps Griffin’s best game in Washington came in the 2012 Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas, where he passed for 304 yards and four touchdowns in a Redskins’ victory.

Griffin was back for Washington’s alumni game last season under new owner Josh Harris. Griffin most recently worked as an analyst for ESPN and remains a prolific social media user.

Former Washington coach in trouble?

Is 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan really on the hot seat?

A former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator is said to be on the hot seat.

Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks drove down the field and, in the game’s final seconds, defeated the San Francisco 49ers, dropping the 49ers to 5-5 this season.

A couple of hours later, Grant Cohn, publisher of 49ers on SI, tweeted, “If the 49ers miss the playoffs, they should fire Kyle Shanahan. Period.”

Twitter was ablaze on Sunday evening, as 49er fans declared their disappointment with this year’s team in general. In particular, many voicing they wouldn’t mind if Shanahan was not San Francisco’s coach next season. That was putting it nicely, by the way.

Many are tweeting things they should not, being mean-spirited, unfair, and frankly hateful towards Shanahan. Yes, they are exercising their First Amendment right to say what they think. However, aren’t they also revealing how unfair and unkind they are as people?

Yes, the 49ers are struggling, and yes, injuries have been a major issue. They are a reality.

If Shanahan’s 2024 team does not make the playoffs, there will be changes made. However, that doesn’t mean necessarily the change made will be the head coach. They could choose to make personnel changes.

And yes, they could fire Kyle Shanahan. However, the 49ers could still win the NFC West, where the Cardinals lead at 6-4 and the 49ers, Rams and Seahawks are tied at 5-5.

Shanahan was the Redskins’ offensive coordinator during the 2010-2013 seasons. He was subsequently fired along with head coach Mike Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, and others after a horrible 3-13 2013 season, when Robert Griffin had refused to run the offense that Kyle had designed for him in 2012, bringing Griffin his lone season of NFL success.

Shanahan was the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. After Washington, he was the offensive coordinator for the Browns in 2014 and the Falcons in 2015 and 2016 before becoming the 49ers’ head coach for the 2017 season.

Alfred Morris ‘hated’ signing with Cowboys, wants to officially retire with Washington

Alfred Morris would love to sign a one-day contract to retire with Washington.

Alfred Morris had the greatest season for a running back in the Washington NFL franchise’s over 90+ years. In 2012, the rookie sixth-round pick rushed for 1,613 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per rush and scored 13 touchdowns.

As you know, the then-Redskins ripped off seven consecutive wins to capture the NFC East and head into the playoffs. Morris was terrific, but was overshadowed by Washington’s first-round pick that year, quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Those 1,613 rushing yards are the fourth-most in NFL history for a rookie. Morris trails only Eric Dickerson, George Rogers and Ezekiel Elliott. That wasn’t Morris’ only productive season, as he would rush for over 1,000 yards the next two seasons for the Redskins. In his final Washington season in 2015, Morris rushed for 751 yards as the team was built around a prolific passing game, led by Kirk Cousins, Jordan Reed, Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson.

After departing Washington, Morris would spend the next two seasons in Dallas, backing up Elliott. It was a move he never wanted to make.

“It’s funny because it was like one team I didn’t want to play for,” Morris told Bryan Colbert Jr. on the “Next Man Up” podcast. “But it’s how it happened. There are still unanswered questions on like what happened on me exiting out of Washington, which was hard because I gave so much. For four years, I gave it up, not only on the field but off the field as well. I did every community service event. I was immersed into the community.”

Morris then explains that while then-Washington GM Bruce Allen did offer him a contract, it was a lowball offer where Morris correctly believed he deserved more. After turning it down, Morris hoped it was a part of the negotiation process and Washington would come back with another offer, but it never happened.

Morris felt he would land in Denver, which he would’ve been happy with because it was in the AFC, but it didn’t work out. He said he was mad about signing with the Cowboys, as “it was the last team I wanted to play for.”

Colbert then asked Morris, who also played for the 49ers, Cardinals and Giants, if he still considers Washington his home team.

“Oh, without a doubt,” Morris said. “That’s where I started at, and I would love the end….someday….sometime…you know, maybe do like some of the other guys do, do a one-day contract, but we’ll work on that down the road.”

Morris would say he’s “Washington through and through.”

The Commanders have done an outstanding job bringing back some of the team’s former greats under this new ownership group. Could Morris be the next former Washington legend to return to the fold?

Robert Griffin declares Jayden Daniels’ Commanders will finish what he started

Robert Griffin says Jayden Daniels will finish what “we” started.

Just when you thought Robert Griffin was turning the corner…

Griffin, who over the years has perpetuated the narrative that he was somehow a victim in Washington and repeatedly inserted himself into the Commanders’ circumstances, might have reached a new low on Thursday.

Griffin tweeted Thursday that rookie quarterback “Jayden Daniels will finish what we started and be the franchise quarterback the city deserves.”

How arrogant and self-absorbed must one be to suggest what this 2024 team accomplishes is somehow finishing what he began?

Griffin recently has been very positive, praising the Commanders. He tweeted that he thought the Commanders were the third-best team in the NFL. Following the Commanders’ victory over the Browns, Griffin tweeted that Washington was the best team in the NFC East and that they were dangerous.

Yet, somehow, he began to think that he must convince the NFL world that this is somehow about Robert Griffin.

Thursday, Griffin was back to what – unfortunately – history reveals he does most often: promote himself. Jayden Daniels is having a fantastic rookie season; the team has already matched the 2023 win total (4). So why is Griffin insisting he be considered part of this team’s narrative?

Think for just a second, Robert. How many players on the 2012 team are still with the Commanders today? That would be zero. When was the last season you had any success, not merely with Washington, but with any other NFL team? That was actually in 2012.

Further, “…will finish what we started?” Robert, what happened after the playoff loss at the end of 2012? Yes, you were injured, and we hated to see that for you. Yet, wasn’t it you, Robert, who told the Shanahans you were no longer playing the offense they had designed for you? Didn’t you then struggle mightily in 2013 and 2014, playing from the pocket?

Didn’t we all learn from that experience that it was the Shanahans’ willingness to think way outside the NFL box that brought you your only success in the NFL?

Therefore, wasn’t it you, Robert, who actually finished what the Shanahans designed for your success in 2012? Wasn’t it you, your poor quarterback play, and then-owner Daniel Snyder who resulted in the firing of the great coaching staff Mike Shanahan had assembled?

The ownership, front office staff, coaches and players are accomplishing in 2024 a cosmic shift for this franchise.

But here you are again, Robert, attempting to con people into thinking this is somehow about finishing what “you” started.

Why do you continue to repeatedly seek admiration and validation for what you “think” you accomplished? Is it any wonder that years ago, someone out there coined for you the nickname “RGME?”

Former NFL quarterback has a Viking leading the MVP race

The former Heisman-winning quarterback has Minnesota’s quarterback as the early favorite to take home the hardware.

Robert Griffin III is a former Heisman-winning quarterback for Baylor and was a first-round draft choice for the then-Washington Redskins. Griffin III battled injuries that forced him out of the NFL much earlier than anticipated, but he moved from NFL player to analyst.

The former ESPN analyst is extremely high on the Vikings. Not only does Griffin III have Minnesota as his second-best team in the NFL behind Kansas City, but he also thinks the Vikings have the MVP favorite.

When the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal, nobody believed he could be in the MVP discussion for five weeks, but here we are. RGIII has Darnold as his early MVP favorite.

Darnold was a little shaky in the Vikings’ latest win against the Jets in London, but he’s been superb outside of that game. The former top-five NFL pick has thrown for 1,111 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He’s doing all of this without star tight end T.J. Hockenson, who is expected back very soon.

WATCH: Robert Griffin III discusses the influence Randall Cunningham had on his game

Robert Griffin III discusses Randall Cunningham influence on his game

The NFL has a new wave of dual-threat quarterbacks, and RG3 should get his flowers for playing a pivotal role in so-called running quarterbacks who are trusted to lead NFL teams as rookies.

A Heisman Trophy winner at Baylor, Griffin III played seven seasons for the Redskins, Ravens and Browns. He threw for 9,271 yards and 43 touchdowns, was selected to play in 1 Pro Bowl, and won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Now retired, Griffin III spoke with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson about many topics, including how his dad forced him to watch a film about former NFL great Randall Cunningham.

“My dad made me study Randall Cunningham,” he said.

“So I got a lot of respect for Randall Cunningham and he knows that; when I did that special in Philadelphia with Jalen and Donovan and the guys, that was inspired by Randall Cunningham because we want to show him the love he deserves.”

Cunningham should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the honor wouldn’t be based on stats but on the overall evolution of football.

Cunningham spent his first 11 seasons with the Eagles, helping pave the way for how the quarterback position is played today. A second-round pick out of UNLV in 1985, Cunningham finished his Eagles career with under 30,000 passing yards and just under 5,000 rushing yards while compiling an 82-52-1 record in 135 starts with Philadelphia. Cunningham logged 29,979 career passing yards and ran for 4,928 in 162 games. He retired as the NFL all-time leader in rushing yards for a quarterback. He still ranks in the top 25 in league history for passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. Cunningham was a four-time Pro Bowler in 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1998.

You can see Griffin III’s comments in the video below.

Robert Griffin III calls Lamar Jackson the greatest dual-threat QB ever

That play, the one that we all can’t stop talking about, moved RG3 to crown Lamar Jackson the dual threat QB G.O.A.T. 

Remember all that angst and depression that accompanied the 0-2 start, Baltimore Ravens fans? Well, that’s all evaporated into oblivion now, as the Ravens have won three straight and are now atop the AFC North division standings at 3-2.

The most recent victory, a 41-38 overtime affair at Cincinnati, was about as exciting as possible. It included an actual “play of the year” nominee in Lamar Jackson’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely.

Chris Rose, host of NFL Network’s Gameday Highlights, already deemed it the play of the year.

Like everyone else who saw it, Rose was extremely impressed by this play, including former Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III, the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

After watching Jackson stiff-arm the Bengals star DE Sam Hubbard, elude Germaine Pratt, and throw a dime to tight end Isaiah Likely, RG3 was utterly wowed.

Griffin was moved to crown Jackson as the greatest dual-threat quarterback of all time.

It won’t be long before Jackson has all the quarterback-rushing records to himself and thus possesses all the stats to validate RG3’s claim further.

Cam Newton himself agrees with this position. In the meantime, Jackson might be on the pace to earn his third NFL MVP award this season. That was entirely on display yesterday.

Jayden Daniels is the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month

Jayden Daniels is the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month.

September 2024 will be remembered in the NFL as the month of Jayden Daniels. The Washington Commanders rookie quarterback has won numerous awards for his play over the season’s first month and added a big one on Thursday: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month.

In addition, Daniels was named the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week last week, the third time he’s won the award in four weeks.

The No. 2 overall pick completed 87 of his 106 passing attempts for 897 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. Daniels also rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns.

His 82.1% completion percentage is a rookie record for a quarterback’s first four NFL games and an NFL record for a four-game stretch with a minimum of 20 attempts.

Daniels is the first Washington player to win NFL Rookie of the Month since Robert Griffin III did it twice in 2012.

Through four games, Daniels has led more scoring drives (23) than he has incomplete passes (19). The Commanders have punted only one time over the past three games.

Daniels has the Commanders at 3-1 and in sole possession of first place in the NFC East. Washington hosts the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.