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I didn't even know there was a game this week.
To suggest there aren't reasons supporting both naming and not naming a starter at this point would be foolish--all of those reasons exist. Naming Griffin the starter at this point of the year certainly helps the organization dodge months and months of intense media scrutiny over who will win the job. I know we here at Hogs Haven were investing heavily in our graphics department to come up with the proper way to track who was in the lead at any given second from now until September.
Naming Griffin the starter in mid-February sets a clear path for a franchise that has had incredible difficulty finding, uhhhh, paths. I think we can all appreciate the semblance of a plan, and I know we can all applaud commitment to a course of action. Too many times, the Redskins have been that car in the middle of a busy intersection with its brake lights locked in that super bright red "OH SHIT!" setting. Having an idea of where you are going before you get to that point doesn't just save time, it saves lives y'all! Then again, calling the ball in February like Jay Gruden did yesterday might make them the car that puts its blinker on for no discernible reason...miles ahead of any possible turn.
We all understand that when it comes to physical gifts, Griffin is the clear frontrunner. He brings things to the table that nobody else on the roster (at the quarterback position) does, but at the same time, those gifts have worked against him. When it comes to gifts in general, nobody gave them to opposing defenses the way Kirk Cousins did when he got a chance last season. As for Colt McCoy, let's just be honest: there probably isn't a single head coach in the NFL that would be willing to risk his career by naming him the starter on Valentine's Day. That doesn't mean he can't play or that there isn't an opportunity for him to remain employed in this league. It just means that he isn't marriage material right now.
When I saw the news slide across the ticker, I was pretty shocked. All at once, these thoughts occurred to me:
- Does McLovin' think that by naming RG3 the starter now, his trade value is somehow enhanced?
- Does Jay Gruden really think that Griffin gives him his best chance to not be the next in a long line of short-timers on the Washington sideline?
- Was that really Dan Snyder wearing a Jay Gruden costume making the announcement?
- I wonder if Kirk Cousins is watching the announcement with Jon Gruden?