Late last week, Robert Griffin III signed a two-year deal with the Cleveland Browns, much to the surprise of the football world.
The signing makes sense for both RG3 and Cleveland, and there are three reasons why he ended up as a Brown at the end of the day. We list them below:
3- Cleveland was the only team that showed any real interest
The Jets brought in Griffin for a visit, but they were never a threat to sign him. That move was to call Ryan Fitzpatrick’s bluff, nothing more. The Broncos showed interest, but apparently, weren’t too fond of his character, and the 49ers weren’t doing anything with Colin Kaepernick still on the roster. Dallas said no thanks, and Houston paid Brock Osweiler a boat load of money, leaving Cleveland as the only team that showed any real interest.
2- Cleveland was brutally honest with RG3
The Browns must have been honest with RG3 prior to signing him, and I imagine something to the extent of “we want you, and you’ll have a chance to compete for the starting job, but we’re also drafting a QB at some point in in the draft, probably even 2nd overall”.
The cards are now on the table for RG3 at this point. Nobody outside of Cleveland will give him a chance to play and the Browns have already been upfront about their intentions for both him and the team, leaving RG3 with two choices- one, take what you can get from the Browns, or two, sit out and possibly risk not signing at all this season with a team.
1- Cleveland was the only team to give RG3 a chance to start
RG3 was pretty much a healthy scratch the entire 2015 season and didn’t want to go back to the bench in 2016, and I don’t blame him, who honestly can? The Browns must have given him an honest, no BS assessment during his visit with them, a win-win for both team and QB. Cleveland signs RG3 to a short term deal, lets him start in 2016 (already put Josh McCown on the trading block), while drafting Carson Wentz 2nd overall, who can in turn, sit for a while as he learns the offense.
If RG3 tears up the league again like he did in 2012, then he’s got a second life in the NFL, but he needed an opportunity to start again, and the Browns afforded him that chance.
This is a win for both QB and team, and it is the reason why, RG3 is a Cleveland Brown.
