The Washington Redskins have the second pick in the NFL Draft, but they should hope the Indianapolis Colts take Andrew Luck over Robert Griffin III.
Both quarterbacks were brilliant during recent pro days. Luck missed only one pass, Griffin two. Each showed mobility, made all the throws and looked ready to become NFL stars.
Maybe there’s no wrong choice. Then again, it looked that way in 1998 when Indianapolis chose Peyton Manning and San Diego took Ryan Leaf. Manning remains the greatest modern quarterback, while Leaf lasted only four years and was rated the No. 1 all-time draft bust by NFL Network.
You just never know until they play.
Luck seems like the missing Winklevoss triplet that wants more money from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. A little stiff on and off the field. Maybe a touch too polished. Those aren’t bad things, but somehow it feels wrong.
Griffin exudes personality and while that may seem irrelevant, it makes a difference in the huddle. Former Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler never connected with the entire locker room while Gus Frerotte was beloved.
Shuler was a little too straight arrow for teammates frustrated by his under achievements. One linebacker even gave Shuler a black eye following a turnover during practice.
Frerotte was a seventh-rounder in that same 1994 draft. With no expectations, maybe teammates naturally liked his surprising rise, but Frerotte was also someone whom you could go have a beer with at the bar.
Chemistry is everything in sports. Redskins teammates disliked quarterback Jeff George so much in 2011 they let a Dallas defender drag George several yards after a sack. None of the linemen made a move when they should have started a brawl.
Luck seems like a good guy, but there are higher expectations as the first pick, and he’s joining an awful team.
Griffin’s challenge isn’t much easier, raising a mediocre team to playoff contender in a season or two. That’s where personality helps. Watching Griffin’s teammates laugh at his jokes between snaps during pro day shows he can work with people and be a leader. It’s such an intangible. Teammates will want to play for Griffin.
He also seems a little more flexible than Luck. Still, both coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan need to be far more accommodating with Griffin than they were with Donovan McNabb in 2010 or this offense will go nowhere. Luck’s playbook would seem a few pages smaller.
Overall, Griffin offers a little more juice in so many more ways than Luck. It’s what makes stars shine.
That said, if the Colts surprisingly take Griffin then the Redskins will gladly choose Luck. Taking a passer that Mel Kiper says is the most ready-made quarterback since Manning in 1998 wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
