Robert Griffin III is the only person that can tell what his pain threshold is and the only person that can tell the doctor's that I am cleared but can't do what I need to to help is win. Shanahan is notoriously old school and treats injuries poorly (i.e. Terrell Davis in Denver) but had RGIII said, I am not going to help you but hurt you, he would have had to sit him. I put 90% of the blame on RGIII and only 10% on Shanahan. I know how it is as a competitor on the football field and wrestling mat and as a coach in both instances. As a competitor, you don't want to quit and as a coach you want your guy to play through pain. Sometimes as a coach, you have to turn that compassion button on and realize that you need to make the choice for the player and this is where I fault Shanahan. When it's clear he can't get it done, pull him. The tough part is he re-aggravated an injury, but was just as hobbled last week.
Obviously, hindsight is always 20/20 but as long as RGIII doesn't require a leg amputation he should be back healthier at the beginning of the season. RGIII needs to learn a few things. He often tackles himself and causes injuries by sliding awkwardly and putting himself in bad situations by taking more punishment than he needs to. He is not the size of Cam Newton or even Tim Tebow, so he needs to realize he needs to give up that extra yard if it means saving your ass.
Here is to hoping RGIII's recovery is as prompt and successful as Adrian Peterson's was. I am a huge fan of this young man and hope that this allows him to learn that pain that limits mobility is not going to prove anything besides detremintal to your career, so be careful. Though I do not blame Shanahan, if this is something that causes RGIII to miss most of next year, look for Dan Snyder to be his typical impulsive self and make a switch.
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