Mike Shanahan has some glowing remarks for RGIII (Audio)

Though the current incarnation of the Washington Football Team sent Robert Griffin III packing, the quarterback’s former coach, Mike Shanhan served as a reference for would-be suitors in the free agency market. On a sports radio interview in the nation’s capital, Shanahan stated that Griffin recently called the long-time coach to thank him for the glowing reviews given to other coaches as the former No. 2 pick looked for work for 2016 and beyond.

While Shanahan thought he would get a few more calls on the former Baylor Bear, he personally reached out to the Rams’ Jeff Fisher. Here’s a snippet of the interview as transcribed by NFL.com:

“I would take him if I were you,” Shanahan told Rams coach Jeff Fisher earlier this month. “… There’s no way that this guy can’t be successful if he goes back with the mindset he had as a rookie. Because he was so positive, he had charisma, he was one of our team leaders, and then after that injury, things started going in a different direction. …

“I told Robert, ‘I would be more than happy to talk to all the guys if you want me to talk to Hue Jackson, Todd Bowles… Just have them give me a call on your behalf. I was with you when we did some things that nobody else has ever done and you still have that opportunity if you want to go that direction. If you don’t, then I think you’re going to struggle.'”

Some of those things referenced by Shanahan come in the way of a boat load of stats and accomplishments that came with Griffin’s electric rookie year.

“Anytime you lead the league in yards per play, rushing yards per game, rushing yards per attempt, passing yards net plays, he had the lowest interception percentage … fewest turnovers,” Shanahan explained. “He set seven total offensive records, 21 individual records, four NFL records. The reason why I say that is he did it for a certain reason. People had to use defenses to stop the running game. He was able to take advantage of play-action and do things that no other quarterback has been able to do.

“I think Robert is going to get much better. Sliding, throwing the ball away—these things come with experience and come with age.”

Within those quotes were a chock full of Griffin-based stats that Shanahan apparently has committed to memory. When asked about Griffin’s fit with Hue Jackson and the Cleveland Browns, Shanahan said he believes things will work for the better as Jackson—working with Jason Campbell, Joe Flacco, Carson Palmer and others—has a history of molding his offense to the quarterback as opposed to square-peg-round-holing a player into a scheme of choice.

“What is the right place for you? They’ve got to utilize your skills. You can’t go to a place that is going to be strictly a dropback attack. Go back to the things you do great, be patient with it, but be all in. Go out there and have some fun.”

Shanahan stated that he is unaware of the discussions between Griffin and Jackson, but staunchly believes that the talent is there and the player simply needs to have an system that can maximize the quarterback’s potential. If you’re looking for audio of the interview, we got you covered. There’s even some discussion about Mike Holmgren and Browns’ original offer for Griffin back in 2012. Enjoy.