George Wallace, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – By the time NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stepped to the podium and announced the Redskins’ selection of Robert Griffin III Thursday night, we pretty much knew everything there is to know about the Redskins’ new franchise quarterback, except for one thing: He sings, too.
When asked on a conference call with reporters how he felt, RGIII began to sing a familiar tune.
“‘Hail to the Redskins, hail victory’ — that’s how I felt, (it) felt that good,” Griffin sang and said. “A team finally fell in love with me, they want me for who I am and I can’t wait to go and play for them.”
(Hear Griffin’s fight song rendition to the right)
The entire Redskins organization and fan base have been waiting for this moment since March 10, the day Dan Snyder gave Mike Shanahan permission to give up a lot to the St. Louis Rams to obtain the No. 2 overall pick in the draft — a spot Shanahan knew would be beneficial.
“That’s one we thought we were going to get from the beginning because Indy, speculation was that they were going to go after Andrew right from the beginning,” Shanahan said. “We liked both quarterbacks, but were hoping we were going to get Robert.”
Shanahan got his guy, and now will turn over the reigns of an offense that has struggled during the coach’s first two years in D.C.
“I’m looking forward to getting right to work,” Griffin said.
RGIII has made it clear that he’s done his research on the Redskins and has learned about his new teammates. He knows he has a lot to learn and that it will take time, but wants to make sure everyone knows one thing.
“I’m a person that tries to lead by example,” he said. “I just don’t talk. You want to just go do it, and I’m excited to just go do it with the Redskins.
“My dream has come true and it’s up to me to figure out what I’m going to do after that.”
He might be 22 years old, but the Heisman Trophy winner has been saying and doing all the right things throughout this entire process, and you would think he’s a 10-year veteran. Griffin comes to a town that has been starving for a winner, and seems ready to put an entire franchise on his back and lead for the next decade.
Now that draft night has come and gone, I think it’s safe to say that April 26, 2012 will go down as the most exciting day for the Redskins franchise since January 7, 2004. That was the day Dan Snyder introduced Joe Gibbs as the new head coach of the Redskins.
Welcome to Washington, Robert Griffin III. And by the way, you’ve got some pretty good company in town.
How many cities can look down a list of athletes and offer you the likes of Ovie, Strasburg, Zimmerman, Wall and RGIII?
Not bad is it, D.C.?
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