Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden isn’t holding back after a report by ESPN on Sunday indicating that Robert Griffin III has alienated himself from other players on the team.
The report goes on to use a specific situation in front of the media as evidence of discord between the enigmatic young quarterback and other players on the team.
Griffin’s support with players, however, is not as strong as it is with the highest levels of the organization, according to sources.
When Griffin began addressing the media in the locker room on Friday for the first time since dislocating his left ankle in Week 2, about 15 teammates began shouting. It was so loud and distracting, the franchise quarterback — and reporters — had to leave the locker room so Griffin could speak someplace where he could be heard. That’s when the cheering got even more boisterous.
For his part, Gruden took exception to this report after the team’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday (h/t Deadspin).
It was an amateurish report. Totally not true. For anybody who reads that, to believe that, they’re an amateur. Anybody who reports that is an amateur. It’s totally false…[W]e are in D.C., it is Robert Griffin, they’re going to try and tear him down and tear us down, for whatever reason. But we’re going to stay united as a locker room and that’s that. We’re not going to let anybody get to us. That’s some small-time reporter reporting fiction.
If ESPN is drawing the conclusion that RGIII isn’t popular based solely on this interaction, it could most definitely be considered “amateurish” reporting. Though, similar reports have come out of D.C. dating back to last season.
In any event, the “sports leader” is drawing criticism from those who cover the Redskins. The Washington Post’s Mike Jones tweeted this out on Sunday.
Re: ESPN locker room report: Grossly misinterpreted. The noise, yelling over intrvw was not directed at RGIII, but at Redskins PR.
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) November 2, 2014
This could very well be yet another story of a media outlet failing to use proper discretion when reporting on something. We have seen this story all too much over the years, and it’s starting to become pretty frustrating in the grand scheme of things.
Photo: The Washington Post
