Sashi Brown admits RG3 could be more than just a short-term answer at QB

The quarterback carousel in Cleveland might be the world’s first perpetual motion machine. In the latest turn, the Cleveland Browns came out and said that Robert Griffin III isn’t guaranteed the starting nod at quarterback earlier in the offseason, but executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown is now stating RG3 wasn’t signed just to be a placeholder for a future franchise quarterback. The Browns expect him to compete for the franchise quarterback slot if he can get back to his old form.

Of course, RG3 will have to prove himself on the field, per ohio.com’s Nate Ulrich.

“We did feel like Robert could play for a long time for us … it could be Griffin, but he’s going to have to prove it.”

Obviously, since he did not play a single snap in 2015 following another knee injury, there are plenty of questions. However, if he can somehow return to his pre-ACL injury form when he took the NFL by storm and the Washington Redskins to the playoffs, then he would be the most talented quarterback to dawn a Browns jersey since their return in 1999.

If (and, whoo boy, a big I-F) Griffin can return to his that form, Brown, head coach Hue Jackson, and the rest of the front office would be set and look incredibly smart for bypassing Carson Wentz in the 2016 NFL Draft.

“Our plan would be for Robert, if it carries out, to come in, solidify himself and then, if we felt like he’s our answer longer term, to begin working on a longer-term deal. Way premature to be talking about that at this point. He’s got to be able to come in, earn the starting job and then be able to show that he can lead our offense in a manner that’s going to allow us to be successful to compete for this division and ultimately for the Super Bowl.”

In his first season in the NFL, Griffin led the Redskins to the playoffs, along with being named the Rookie of the Year. But, not only was that in 2012, but that was prior to yet another ACL tear, him struggling as a pocket passer, and not getting along with some of his teammates and coaches. So, despite it being helpful to have a solidified starting quarterback to head into the 2016 season with such a young team, it is also unlikely.

But, either way, Brown has high hopes for the 26-year-old.

“He’s a little bit the mirror image of us, where he’s got a chip on his shoulder, there’s a lot of noise about him on the outside, and he’s a tremendous teammate, really passionate about football, wants to learn and get better, wants to be coached hard, wants to be the best he can be. He’s proven that. He’s done it before, but he knows also that he’s proven he’s got a lot of growth left for him to become the consistent player that we need him to be and he wants to be.”

The Browns success in the future depends in part on how long it takes them to find their franchise quarterback. Whether it’s Griffin or someone else, the Browns know that they need to find that guy sooner rather than later.

In 2016, the hope emanating from the Dawg Pound might rest upon Griffin returning to his rookie season-self. The type of hope that seems to have left the shores of Lake Erie over the seasons of futility since 1999.

“That comment [about Griffin being able to play in Cleveland for a long time] was certainly in line with that, but also the fact that he’s just 26 years old and he wants to play for a long time. He provides that upside, if he’s able to come in and do what’s first, which is establish himself as a starter and a capable starter for us.”