From the well-publicized benching to the reaction of disgruntled teammates that followed, Robert Griffin III has been the target of headlines everywhere.
However, according to Brian McNally of 106.7 The Fan, Washington coach Jay Gruden says the beleaguered quarterback—who survived the final round of cuts—isn’t a distraction.
Jay Gruden says #Redskins don't feel like RG3 "is a distraction at all". He'll have to see the neurologist one more time
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) September 6, 2015
Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Washington notes Gruden said RG3 remained on the roster because he was one of the best 53 players and is one of three “capable” quarterbacks.
Perhaps Gruden isn’t lying—or at the least, slightly burying the truth—and the Washington football team has continued business as usual with Kirk Cousins as the No. 1 on the depth chart. These guys are professionals, after all, and a player getting benched isn’t a rare occurrence.
Nevertheless, Griffin’s situation didn’t help the franchise that has slowly become the laughingstock of the NFL for a variety of reasons.
Griffin may truly not be a distraction right now, but when Cousins inevitably struggles during the regular season and fans clamor for a change, Gruden might have a different outlook.