Redskins inform Robert Griffin III of release

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000641782/article/redskins-inform-robert-griffin-iii-of-release
Redskins inform Robert Griffin III of release

By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The NFL Editor
Published: March 7, 2016 at 10:42 a.m.
Updated: March 7, 2016 at 10:50 a.m.

There was a time not so long ago when Robert Griffin III was considered the brightest young star in football. Now his departure from the Washington Redskins feels like little more than paperwork.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports that Griffin was informed he will be released Monday, according to a team source. The only surprise regarding the news was that it took so long for the Redskins to finalize, but they wanted to make sure that starter Kirk Cousins was under contract for 2016 before making anything official. Cousins signed his franchise tag tender last week. ESPN first reported the Griffin news.

Griffin didn’t play a single snap last season for the Redskins. In theory, this was to ensure their quarterback’s health in an effort to maintain his trade value. In reality, Griffin played like the third best quarterback on the team the last two seasons behind Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. He was due $16.1 million in 2016 as part of the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. RGIII goes down as a new CBA footnote, the first player to be released after having his fifth-year option picked up.

The start of Griffin’s career was anything but a footnote. A standout rookie campaign in 2012 made RGIII a superstar after being drafted No. 2 overall, culminating in a Redskins playoff berth and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors over Andrew Luck. His career was never the same, however, after tearing his ACL and MCL in the Redskins’ playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Around the NFL will have more on this story soon