There is “mounting buzz” about the Browns’ intent to sign Robert Griffin III, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. La Canfora adds that he wouldn’t be surprised if the two sides reached agreement on a deal this week. Griffin visited the Browns just days ago and the visit reportedly went well.
If the Browns sign RG3, they will receive outside interest in quarterback Josh McCown, per LaCanfora (Twitter links). La Canfora asserts that the Broncos, Rams, and Jets could all explore a deal for the veteran quarterback. In addition, he says that an RGIII signing would not preclude Cleveland from going after a QB in the draft.
McCown was placed on IR in December, but finished the year with fairly respectable numbers. Although the Browns only won one of his eight starts, he completed 63.7% of his passes, throwing for 2,109 yards, 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He’s now entering the second season of the three-year deal he signed with Cleveland as a free agent in 2015.
Griffin, the 2012 offensive rookie of the year, hasn’t been the same since tearing his ACL in the playoffs that season. Although the former Pro Bowl quarterback completed a career-best 68.1% of his passes in 2014, he threw just four touchdown passes compared to six interceptions and fell out of favor with Jay Gruden. Subsequently, RGIII didn’t take a snap in 2015 as Kirk Cousins captured Washington’s starting job and ultimately received the franchise tag.
Griffin looked like a superstar in the making as a rookie, but his completion percentage dropped in 2013 and Washington went 3-10 in games that the former Heisman Trophy winner started.
Injuries knocked Griffin out of the starting lineup in 2014 and ’15, the latter coming in the preseason, when Washington opted to shelve Griffin and begin its exit strategy from its one-time franchise quarterback. The team released him earlier this month.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
McCown signed last off-season. It’s year two of three year deal!
Nice catch, that’s been fixed. Thanks.
This can be looked at in different ways. RG3 trying to rebuild his career in the worst place for quarterbacks during this century and on a team that just lost all of its notable free agents — and is without a proven receiver, at least among those that are certain to be on the field this season. That said, Jackson is a quality offensive coach and would be a prime candidate to rebuild the floundering passer’s confidence. And with the Browns having essentially no playoff chances this season, Griffin would be able to attempt to revive his career under less scrutiny. But the likelihood of the Browns drafting a QB high, as they should, would make me lean toward the former scenario for RG3 and would lead me to believe this wouldn’t be a great fit.