Robert Griffin III was one of the most heralded Redskins picks of the Dan Snyder era, and he was the Rookie of the Year in 2012 and electrified FedEx Field…but has sort of been persona non grata the rest of the Snyder era.
Until now, because new owners mean a new start – and he’s the face of the franchise in the new “Welcome Home” video released by the team to bring fans back to Landover.
“I guess it makes sense in that he was very vocal and critical about Dan Snyder's ownership while he was here after he left, so maybe the PR team or someone reached out to mend fences and say, ‘hey, it’s a new day here,’” Cakes said on Monday’s Sports Junkies. “We want to honor you and your time here with the team, even though it didn't wind up the way everybody wanted it to.”
“He didn’t win a championship, but I'd liken it a little bit to Stephen Strasburg in that, you know, there are some great moments,” JP replied.
“RGIII gave fans hope and a spectacular season in 2012, and as much as we talk about the stadium issue and whether they're ever going to build a new one and where, no one was complaining in 2012; that place was packed, and it was electric because of him.”
Game 1 is a sell-out for the first time since then, and perhaps, JP posited, “new ownership wants to light that fire again and build a home field advantage.”
RGIII AND John Riggins, who was also self-exiled from DC during the Snyder era, will both be there, and as the guys said, “time heals all wounds, and they’re going to get a big pop.”
Take a listen above as the Junkies discuss what RGII meant to the franchise and the NFL in general, and what his return means for the Commanders!