They came in burgundy and gold argyle socks, braided wigs and T-shirts that cleverly read, “RGIII The Movement.” It was a celebration of the draft of Robert Griffin III and of new hope for the Washington Redskins.
Fans came to FedEx Field to greet the team’s new quarterback, drafted No. 2 overall on Thursday. Wearing a burgundy tie, a charcoal pinstripe suit, a Redskins cap and a 1,000-watt smile, Griffin jogged out of a tunnel to chants of “R-G-3.”
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“I don’t know if you’re excited. I know I’m excited,” Griffin said into a microphone after stepping on a stage.
Keeping his answers short on questions posed by Redskins radio voice Larry Michael, Griffin appeared uncharacteristically overwhelmed by the adoration. Before departing, Griffin was joined by fans singing “Hail to the Redskins.” He also conducted part of the song.
“I take pride in the fact that I’ll be able to have the chance to wear the burgundy and gold,” Griffin said earlier in a news conference in which he demonstrated a rare combination of media savvy and humility.
“I went to a signing in Chantilly and saw seven different variations of my name on a shirt, so I kind of understand the anticipation,” Griffin said. “A lot of cameras, a lot of people that want to talk to me, ask me questions. Thank you for that.”
With his family seated in the front row in the press room, Griffin answered virtually every question with glances, nods and smiles.
Griffin was a pied piper on Saturday. Steve Ford, 31, of Wilmington, Del., and his party of five made a two-hour drive. Darren Champion, 43, came from seven hours away in Crouse, N.C., bringing his wife, son and nephew.
Before Griffin and his family were whisked away in a trio of black Suburbans, he talked of the bright light that comes with celebrity.
“People say it’s only gonna get worse. But if it gets worse, that means I’m doing my job,” Griffin said. “Hopefully the spotlight, and all the cameras, all the flashes will get worse for everybody. That means we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, and that’s win football games.”
