The debate began before the first player signed and the second even could be drafted.
Washington Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman re-signed Saturday. Robert Griffin III likely will be the team’s choice with the No. 2 overall pick on April 26. The past and future will compete for the present.
Maybe the rookie won’t be ready, but his backers will say playing Grossman is a waste of time, that Griffin is the one who can lead the Redskins back to the postseason.
Now, of course, Griffin’s nickname doesn’t quite work; Grossman is also a third. “I like RG III” shirts should ring the training camp field no matter which one fans prefer.
Even if it’s a mild one, another quarterback controversy seems destined to dominate the Redskins. It has been the Redskins’ way since Sonny Jurgensen and Billy Kilmer in the 1970s. Washingtonians savor passer possibilities with the finest of memories.
Re-signing Grossman was smart even though he was a mediocre starter last season known for throwing downfield completions and dumb interceptions. He threw four in one game before coach Mike Shanahan stopped the madness and sent in John Beck.
Good Rex, Bad Rex. On a decent day, he can win games. But too often Grossman will lose them.
What’s the risk of starting Griffin right away? Shanahan needn’t worry about his job. Rookie quarterbacks are the perfect excuse for coaches to stave off unemployment even if this becomes Shanahan’s third losing season in three years with the Redskins.
There’s nothing more important than Griffin maturing, so the Redskins might as well start him immediately. Oh sure, go through the motions of making him earn it. But everyone knows you don’t spend three first-round picks and a second-rounder for a guy who’s going to carry a clipboard.
The only way Griffin shouldn’t start is if his preseason is an absolute bust. Like seven interceptions, three fumbles and no touchdowns. Even so-so play should mean he opens the season as the No. 1. If he stumbles badly and Washington opens 0-4, Shanahan can play Grossman for a game to let Griffin regroup, but that’s a worst-case scenario.
Surely Shanahan will be tempted to turn to Grossman to begin the season, hoping to replicate last year’s 3-1 start. And if that happens, Shanahan’s not going to turn to the backup like last year, when the Beck experiment derailed the season. Maybe Grossman would have missed a game or two when he had pneumonia, but Shanahan learned he has to stick with one passer. The change resulted in a 2-10 free fall. That’s not happening again.
And that’s a perfect reason for starting Griffin. While the announcement of the schedule is still weeks away, there’s no sense in trying to pick the quarterback based on the opponent. They’re all potential wins. Shanahan won’t say Grossman has a better chance in the opener if the Redskins have to face a good team but Griffin has a better chance against a weak opponent. He’s going to go all in with one of them.
Maybe Griffin will be an instant success. Perhaps he will be a project. Either way, it’s time to start.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
