There were just too many red flags.
Robert Griffin III signed a two-year contract with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday after spending his first four seasons with the Washington Redskins. The Denver Broncos, who lost both Peyton Manning (retirement) and Brock Osweiler (free agency) this offseason, were linked to RG3 before the 26-year-old quarterback signed with Cleveland, but they ultimately refrained from pulling the trigger.
The reason? Griffin’s character, according to KUSA in Denver.
According to KUSA’s Mike Klis, Broncos general manager John Elway considered Griffin as one of several potential backups a month ago when he thought Osweiler would re-sign with the team and become its franchise quarterback. Osweiler, of course, signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Houston Texans, leaving Denver without a starter, let alone a serviceable backup.
The Broncos’ interest in Griffin apparently waned. There’s no denying the former second overall pick’s physical tools, even though he’s battled inconsistency at times when he’s been on the field, but Elway and the Broncos reportedly had reservations about RG3’s makeup.
“But after making a few phone calls, Elway was concerned about Griffin’s character,” Klis wrote in a story published Thursday. “Elway never did express interest in the former Washington quarterback who was the NFL’s Rookie of the Year in 2012 but had several fallouts with coach Mike Shanahan, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and teammates.”
Elway, former Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan and Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak have a history — Elway was the quarterback, Shanahan was the head coach and Kubiak was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach when Denver won back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998 — so it’s reasonable to think they discussed Griffin at one point or another before he signed with Cleveland.
Griffin didn’t appear in a single game last season and has been the subject of scrutiny since an impressive rookie campaign in which he threw for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns to five interceptions. The Baylor product also ran for 815 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season.
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
