Sports

RGIII Makes Pitch To Replace Deshaun Watson In Cleveland, Says He Runs A 4.3 40-Yd Dash

#RGIII
by
Robert Griffin III throws a football.

Getty Image


Robert Griffin is still interested in an NFL return. The quarterback has made that clear as he still trains daily in hopes that someone comes calling.

On Thursday, RGIII made his sales pitch to the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland will be without starter Deshaun Watson for the remainder of the season after he suffered a shoulder injury against the Ravens. The setback will require surgery, forcing the Browns to look at other options under center.

One of those options will be reserve Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a rookie out of UCLA. Veteran PJ Walker is also available, and he’s had some success in the past.

Over three seasons with the Panthers he went 4-3. He’s 1-1 as a starter in Cleveland, though his 1:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio doesn’t lend much confidence.

For now, it will be DTR.

Can Cleveland make a run to the playoffs under his leadership? That could be a tall task in an AFC North that sees all four members sitting above .500 at the time of this writing.

Should the front office not see that as a likelihood, there’s someone who’d jump at the chance to fill in.

RGIII makes pitch to the Browns.

“The Browns should sign me as their starting QB, and here’s why,” Griffin said on his RGIII and the Ones podcast. “At 33 years old, I understand the game better than I ever have in my entire career…. I can go out and manage a game for the Cleveland Browns and help them go on the Super Bowl run that they want to go on. I run a 4.3 40, y’all, and I can still throw a ball 80 yards.”

Griffin was timed earlier this year running a sub-4.5 40-yard dash as part of a charity event with Rich Eisen, and he claims to have gotten even faster. That previous time reportedly landed him some interest from NFL teams.

His mobility has always been a strong part of his game, though his injury history might make a team hesitant.

Griffin isn’t only interested in the starting job. He’s open to coming a reserve role to help guide Dorian Thompson-Robinson through the rest of his rookie year.

RGIII has been out of the NFL since 2020 when he suited up for the Ravens. He’s been a part of the Browns’ organization, too, suiting up for Cleveland in 2016.

In his five starts, the Browns went 1-4.