Free agent NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III admitted on Wednesday that he actually turned down offers from both the Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens during the offseason.
“I had interest in the offseason, it just wasn’t the right fit,” Griffin told Michael Smith and Jemele Hill on SC 6 (h/t Arizona Sports 98.7 FM).”
Griffin elaborated specifically as to why the Cardinals were not the right team for him.
“In Arizona, the reason it wasn’t a good fit was because Carson (Palmer) was there,” Griffin said. “I was willing to come in and work behind an experienced veteran quarterback who’s done a lot of great things. They had the backup in Stanton and they had also brought in Blaine Gabbert.
“Nobody lets four quarterbacks get practice time. That was the issue. It wasn’t the coach.”
Had RGIII signed with the Cardinals, that indeed would have made for a crowded quarterbacks room. But in retrospect, nobody anticipated that Palmer would go down with a season-ending injury. If Griffin was on the Cardinals’ roster, it is anyone’s guess as to whether the team would have given him an opportunity to fill in as a starter.
Griffin last played five uneventful games under center with the Cleveland Browns in 2016. This was after the Washington Redskins benched him in lieu of Kirk Cousins, ending his tenure in D.C.
According to the report, Griffin said he is ready to play if any “contending” franchise needs a quarterback. With the AFC and NFC playoff pictures beginning to form, there certainly are several contending teams out there.
Whether any team extends an offer to RGIII this late in the season remains to be seen. But it’s highly unlikely.