Washington coach Jay Gruden has seen his comments about quarterback Robert Griffin III get turned into something worse than they really were, and he’s come to believe that’s just part of life as an NFL head coach.
“I don’t have much of a concern really,” Gruden said, via CSNWashington.com. “I know that no matter what I say about Robert, it’s going to get twisted one way or the other.”
Gruden believes that people will seek to put a negative spin on anything he says about his quarterback.
“If I say he’s doing great, it’s going to be, ah, I’m too easy on him. If I say he needs to work harder, it means I said he’s lazy. If I said he needs to work on his fundamentals, it means I don’t like him,” Gruden said.
Although Gruden has benched Griffin this season and only put him back on the field after an injury to Colt McCoy forced his hand, Gruden says he has positive feelings toward Griffin.
“I have a ton of respect for Robert, man, and for what he goes through at the quarterback position,” Gruden said, “for what he’s already accomplished as a young quarterback, and what he’s going to accomplish in the future.”
It remains to be seen whether Gruden and Griffin have any future together beyond this season, but for the final two weeks, Gruden is going to say what he pleases about Griffin and let others interpret his words how they please.
