As Griffin prepares for the next chapter of his football life, I would encourage him to study the career of Vince Young. Their stories are eerily similar.
When you think of Vince Young now, you think of two things. The Rose Bowl vs USC, and NFL bust. Young's story did not start that way, and certainly didn't have to end that way.
Listen up RGIII...
Young and Griffin were both celebrated qb's in the state of Texas. Both should have won the Heisman (Young was robbed in 05), and both were top ten first round draft picks. Both earned Rookie of the Year honors, and both were media darlings (RGIII and his numerous commercials, VY made the cover of Madden). Both revived their cities, and both lead their teams to the playoffs early in their careers. Both players were hand picked (and some would even say...coddled) by their owners. And unfortunately, neither was wanted...or embraced by their head coaches.
Coming into the 06 draft, the Tennessee Titans knew they had to grab a qb. Then head coach Jeff Fisher wanted to take USC qb Matt Leinart. After all, Fisher is a Trojan himself. Then owner, and late Bud Adams said with no uncertainty that Tennessee would draft Vince Young. After all, Adams was a Houston native, just like Young...and had been following Vince's career since high school. Of course Adams won, and Young was selected with the third overall pick.
There were no early signs of tension between coach Fisher and VY, after all, Young had just captured the ROY award, and brought the 0-5 Titans to within a game of the playoffs (he entered the lineup by demand of the owner in week 6). The next season, the Titans got in. But after the playoff season, and as the team started losing, more and more stories of "ill will" between the coach and qb started to surface. Young was benched several times, and it got to a point of picking sides. It divided the locker room, and the city. There were several reports of heated exchanges between the two, the most notable being a game late in the season in which Young threw his pads into the stands, cursed the coach out, and stormed out of the locker room. Neither Young or Fisher returned after that scene.
Why should RGIII care?
Because Young never dreamed in a million years that we would not get another NFL job after being released by the Titans...especially after posting a 31-19 record as a starter. Only in hindsight is he able to now see where his lack of maturity fanned the flames that ultimately lead to his release. How he may have used his relationship with the owner to undermine the coach. How he may have taken everything for granted. How me may have received too much...too soon.
Sure, Shanahan may not have wanted to draft Griffin. Sure, there were blow ups as a result, and yes...it did divide the locker room. But it's not too late for RGIII. He get's a new lease on life with a new coaching staff next year. But this time it's on you Robert, if the same stories of locker room issues continue next season, then it will only be a matter of time before the name RGIII becomes an adjective to describe another NFL bust.
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