Sports
NFL Preseason: Mixed Bags by Robert Griffin III, Johnny Manziel on MNF
Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) runs away from Cleveland Browns defensive end Armonty Bryant (95) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
(CBS Sports) – What an ugly first half. Billed as the battle of two Texas talents and a pair of former Heisman winners in Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel, the slop-fest that was Redskins–Browns didn’t come close to hitting expectations early on.
Things got so bad in the first half “Maybe Rex Grossman” started trending nationally on Twitter. Oy.
Griffin was the ultimate mixed bag on the field. He finished 6/8 (good) for 112 yards (14 yards per attempt, very good!) but threw an ugly interception (bad) and generally looked like he was going to get taken out of FedEx Field in a body bag because he still hasn’t learned how to avoid large hits (very, very bad).
The last one is a major problem and someone needs to do something about it. Griffin looks like his brain is in some sort of weird athletic purgatory: his instinct tells him to make plays with his legs but everything he’s learned the past two years starts to kick in to keep him safe. The problem is it creates the most dangerous result, with Griffin looking hesitant on the field and unable to utilize his natural-born talents.
