After a spectacular season in which he dazzled with his arm and his feet and led the Redskins to the playoffs, Robert Griffin III has been named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year.
Griffin was chosen by an Associated Press panel of media members, and his selection was officially announced at an NFL Honors event that will be broadcast by CBS later on Saturday night.
After a Heisman Trophy-winning 2011 season at Baylor, Griffin was selected with the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft by the Redskins. He was tremendous as a rookie, and he was the favorite to win the offensive rookie of the year award, although Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson also would have been fine selections. Griffin got 29 votes from the 50-member panel, with Luck getting 11 and Wilson 10.
The rookie of the year awards (and the other awards that will be unveiled on Saturday night) are for the regular season only. Unfortunately for Griffin, in the playoffs he suffered a serious knee injury that will lead to an offseason of rehab. Redskins fans can only hope he’s healthy and as great in 2013 as he was in 2012.