Redskins coach Mike Shanahan is adamant that he did not overrule team doctors in the decision to play quarterback Robert Griffin III after Griffin suffered a knee injury -- so adamant that he says if he did that, he would deserve to be fired.
In a conversation with NFL Network’s Andrea Kremer, Shanahan said that it’s absurd that he would put the franchise player at risk if the doctors told him not to, and that he believes it’s a firing offense for a coach to disregard a doctor’s medical instructions.
“You’d have to be a complete idiot to think I would overrule our doctors. That’s ludicrous. If someone were to do that, they should be fired,” Shanahan said.
Controversy has swirled over the last 72 hours regarding the Redskins’ handling of Griffin’s knee. First, Dr. James Andrews was quoted as saying Shanahan put Griffin back in the Week 15 game against the Ravens without allowing Andrews to inspect Griffin. Then, Griffin stayed in the game on Sunday against the Seahawks despite clearly being hobbled by his injured knee. Then Griffin ultimately exited the game after injuring the knee again. And then this week Dr. Andrews said his previous comments about Shanahan were misconstrued.
Now Shanahan is doubling down on his claims, insisting in no uncertain terms that he has made Griffin’s health his top priority.