BEREA: Robert Griffin III saw his football career flash before his eyes, but he never surrendered.
His perseverance prevailed Monday when Browns coach Hue Jackson formally named him the franchise’s 25th starting quarterback since 1999. Although the decision had been clear for weeks, if not months, the official word from Jackson represented a significant triumph for Griffin after he experienced one of the most dramatic downfalls in NFL history.
“When you’re going through tough times or going over hurdles in life, you always have to realize those who don’t give up are the ones that end up winning in the end,” Griffin said. “So as long as you don’t give up and you keep working, you’ll get another opportunity. But you have to live each day as if it’s your last. So just try to get better at what you can and control what you can and pray that God takes care of the rest.”
Griffin took the vast majority of the first-team snaps throughout spring practices, and he has done the same thus far in training camp. Josh McCown has worked with the No. 2 offense, and Austin Davis and rookie third-round pick Cody Kessler have toiled with the third unit.
In the past few practices, Griffin has been in a groove. He threw two touchdown passes in a live scrimmage Friday night at team headquarters and another two in a non-padded scrimmage Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Griffin had been inconsistent throughout the spring, but the strides he’s made in the last week have helped the offense steal the spotlight in the early stages of camp. His deep passes have been particularly impressive.
Jackson said he’s “tickled pink” about the possibility of what Griffin can do this year.
“I know what he’s capable of doing. I think I know what our offense is capable of doing,” Jackson added. “We’ve just got to do it consistently every day.”
Griffin worked on his mechanics this summer in Los Angeles with throwing guru Tom House, an ally of Jackson, and has earned Jackson’s trust by improving in camp.
“He played the way I think a quarterback has to play,” Jackson said. “I think he did it flawlessly. I think he did everything I asked him to do. I know sometimes you guys judge him maybe a little different than I do. I get that, but I think he did a great job, and he’s continued to do a great job. But he’s got to continue to get better, too.”
Jackson said he won’t re-evaluate his quarterback choice unless there’s a reason to do so.
“You make a decision. You stick by it,” he said. “It’s what I believe needed to happen. It’s what our staff believed needed to happen. We’re looking forward to him doing a great job here this year.
“When I make a choice, I stand behind it, and my job is to create the right environment for him to be the best he can be, along with the rest of our coaches. That’s what we’re committed to. He has to do the work, but we’ve made a commitment to him, and he’s got to go make it right.”
So Griffin, 26, will receive a chance to revive his career with the Browns after signing a two-year, $15 million contract with them on March 24. He’s 14-22 as a starter, including 0-1 in the playoffs.
He took the league by storm four years ago as the second overall pick in the draft, leading Washington to the NFC East title and the postseason as well as earning a Pro Bowl selection and the league’s offensive rookie of the year award. He went 9-7, including playoffs, during his magical 2012 season.
However, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a postseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 6, 2013, and has since gone 5-15 as a starter.
Injuries, trouble developing as a pocket passer and clashes with previous coaches and teammates contributed to the former Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor University hitting rock bottom in his career.
Last year, he suffered a concussion in a preseason game and lost the starting job to Kirk Cousins, who went on to lead the team to the NFC East championship. Griffin, meanwhile, was buried on the depth chart behind Cousins and Colt McCoy.
He didn’t take a snap in the regular season, and Washington cut him on March 7.
Still, he kept the faith, and the Browns are betting on him.
“You should never doubt,” Griffin said. “There’s a quote out there that says, ‘If you don’t believe, who will?’ So I’m thankful for my teammates and Coach Jackson, [head of football operations] Sashi [Brown] and all these guys for believing in me.
“Everything that you go through in life, it’s a lesson. It’s up to you if you decide to use that lesson in a positive or a negative way. Since I got here, I’ve been real thankful for just the opportunity because they don’t come around that often, and when you get one, you’ve got to seize it.”
But the work has just begun. The Browns were 3-13 last season, and the new regime has overhauled the roster with an aggressive youth movement. The energy Jackson has brought to the team in his first year as its coach can’t alone spark a reversal of fortunes.
“Coach, he gave me an opportunity to come to Cleveland to help do what he plans to do here,” Griffin said, “and that’s turn this thing around and make it a consistent winner.
“There’s never a day off. There’s never a sense of relief. You’ve constantly got to be working to get better.”
Griffin’s teammates have no doubt he’ll continue to do so.
“He is motivated, and I know he’s got a chip on his shoulder,” said rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman, who never played with Griffin during his days at Baylor but befriended him through their ties to the program.
“He’s worked his butt off to get to where he is right now, and I know he’s not going take anything off,” said rookie offensive lineman Spencer Drango, who spent one year with Griffin at Baylor.
There’s no doubt Griffin’s demise in Washington fuels him.
“That will certainly ignite a new fire,” McCown said, “and I feel that with Robert.”
Now, with his job secure, Griffin can focus entirely on resurrecting his career.
“It’s not about what’s within my reach. It’s about this team, and I think the sky is the limit,” he said. “You never want to put a limit on what you want to do.”
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.