“It’s time,” Jackson said in a statement from the team. “Robert has earned the right to be named the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.”
Hear reaction tonight on the Cleveland Browns Preview Show at 11pm on AM 1290 and News 95.7 WHIO.
The Browns signed Griffin in March after his once-promising career with the Washington Redskins flamed out in year four.
Griffin took the NFL by storm as a rookie in 2013 but has had struggles with injuries and clashes with management since, eventually losing the starting job last season to Kirk Cousins, who ultimately led the ‘Skins to the playoffs.
This month Griffin emerged from an otherwise unimpressive field of four (veteran Josh McCown, anonymous Austin Davis and rookie Cody Kessler) after a weekend in which he reportedly excelled with the first-team offense during a “live” scrimmage in Berea on Friday and a mock game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday.
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“Since he was signed back in March, Robert has made it clear through his actions that he is willing to do everything that has been asked of him to earn this role,” Jackson said. “Throughout this process he has gained the respect from his teammates, the coaching staff and the entire organization that is necessary for him to lead our offense and really the entire team.”
Griffin and the Browns appear to be a great fit as an organization and a player desperate to return to better days.
In the Browns, Griffin has a team with no expectations but a new head coach with a great reputation for developing both offenses and quarterbacks. Andy Dalton’s QB rating jumped more than 20 points last season in Cincinnati, and the Bengals displayed a diverse running game to support their young quarterback.
In Griffin, the Browns have a first-round talent who could turn out to be a bonanza for a roster still largely lacking that.
If he succeeds, he gives them a big leg up in their rebuild under Jackson because nothing is more important than finding a franchise quarterback, especially one with Griffin’s natural ability.
If he flops, they’re still likely to be in position to take a quarterback next spring such as Clemson superstar Deshaun Watson.
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