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 The struggling Redskins (3-10), who reached the playoffs last
season, have three games left in the 2013 National Football League
campaign (NFL), starting with Sunday's road contest against the
Atlanta Falcons.
Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan expressed concern about the
welfare of Griffin behind an offensive line that has allowed 24
sacks in the last five games.
"He's getting hit too many times," said Shanahan, who added he had
consulted with Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and general manager
Bruce Allen before making the decision. "Eventually it's going to
take its toll."
Kirk Cousins, a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, will start
in place of Griffin, the coach said.
Griffin was disappointed.
"We talked. I expressed my desire to play and he explained to me his
reasoning. At the end of the day the coach's decision is what we go
with," Griffin told a news conference.
"I have to do whatever I can to help Kirk, to help this team win. My
parents, being two military parents, have taught me to respect
authority and I have to respect what coach says."
Griffin, the number two overall pick in the 2012 draft, led
Washington to the NFC East title last season with a 10-6 mark before
injuring his knee in a playoff loss to Seattle that required
off-season surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
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This year the Redskins have slumped as Griffin, who used his
running talents to great advantage in his stellar rookie season,
has regressed.
Shanahan said missing his off-season football preparation
hampered Griffin.
After throwing 20 touchdown passes, five interceptions and
rushing for 815 yards and seven rushing touchdowns in earning a
trip to the Pro Bowl, Griffin in 2013 has tossed for 16 TDs and
12 interceptions, and gained just 489 yards on the ground.
"I think it would set him back so much if he got hurt and missed
another off-season. I didn't think the risk/reward was worth
it," Shanahan said.
"I think the best thing to do is give him the opportunity to go
into that third off-season injury free, and get a chance to get
better throughout the off-season.
"The quarterback needs an off-season program, it's important.
He's your future. If you miss two off-seasons in a row, it's the
hardest thing in the world to recover from that. It would be
devastating to him."
(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York;
editing by Frank Pingue)
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