“I was watching Robert (Griffin III) when he was out there, when he came off, sits next to (Associate Head Coach – Offense) Pep (Hamilton), go over what play, look at the defense, see this, see that”.
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For what it’s worth, Jackson has not thrown in the towel on the Griffin reclamation project, saying Monday that Griffin “was showing signs”, of being Cleveland’s quarterback of the future and is not yet considering the possibility of drafting another one in 2017.
The franchise’s 25th starting quarterback since 1999, Griffin, who signed with the Browns as a free agent in March in hopes of reviving a career that fizzled in Washington, got hurt while trying to run out of bounds.
The Browns had the chance to select Wentz, but in all their infinite wisdom they traded back with the Eagles and made a decision to roll with veterans Griffin and Sunday’s starter, Josh McCown.
Jackson said the team is hopeful surgery will not be needed at all. “It’s unfortunate but it does happen in this sport”. That means they aren’t good enough to compete for a playoff spot, and will likely win just enough games to keep them from drafting a DeShaun Watson type of quarterback.
Griffin has a fractured coracoid bone in his shoulder. The Browns announced that Griffin would be headed to injured reserve, his status reevaluated in three to four weeks.
But there’s no guarantee that will happen and the 26-year-old has sustained another setback to a career filled with promise when he burst into the National Football League as a dual-threat QB in 2012. “I’m not”, Jackson said. He worked extremely hard. “But I felt like I had to get back out there”.
Jackson didn’t accuse Mills of a dirty hit, and said the timing was such that Griffin, who was also slightly pushed from cornerback Ron Brooks, couldn’t avoid contact.
“I’m definitely going to be out there playing”, Watkins said Monday, putting to rest concerns he experienced a setback during a 13-7 season-opening loss at Baltimore. “They’re going to allow it to try to heal on its own, and if it does progress, I could potentially see him eligible to return”.
Josh McCown threw some warmup passes but Griffin stayed in despite the lopsided score. He had his helmet taken away briefly by the medical staff, but would return for the final three plays of the game and handed the ball off three times.
“I’m sure there are bits and pieces that will, but at the same time, he has been here through OTAs, training camp and the preseason”, Jackson said. The guys know what to expect from that player and how he’s going to perform and what he’s going to do. “That’s a credit to Robert”. Josh McCown is now the Browns’ starter.
“That’s why we kept him here”. The good news is that the offense may actually play better under McCown, although the likelihood of a winning season is just not realistic. Josh McCown famously got concussed after almost being decapitated by the New York Jets’ defense following an ill-advised headfirst dive into the end zone in last season’s opener.
As this lost season drags on, and even the ice grows exhausted of the Edmonton Oilers skating on it, I’m noticing more goals against where the entire Oilers team just doesn’t look sharp.
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The almost constant turnover at quarterback has hindered the Browns from winning or developing any stability.
