By now you've probably heard that the Washington Redskins sent a letter to Redskins Premium Club members earlier this week that listed "Ryan Kerrigan, DeSean Jackson, plus Pro Bowlers Trent Williams and Alfred Morris" as part of their "nucleus," while also name-checking head coach Jay Gruden, new general manager Scot McCloughan and defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
The letter became notable because of one major omission. It didn't include Robert Griffin III, the 24-year-old former No. 2 overall pick who only two years ago was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year and a franchise quarterback in the making.
It's sad that Griffin's career has been derailed to such a degree that he's no longer considered part of the Redskins' so-called nucleus, but the reality is the marketing folks behind the letter made the right choice.
McCloughan and Gruden have yet to give any indication that Griffin will be the starter to open training camp or the 2015 season, so the Redskins would be sending a strange message if they were to start plugging Griffin to potential ticket purchasers.
“I just don’t think you give up on a young quarterback until absolutely you have to,” McCloughan said last month, per The Washington Post. But he also said no decisions had been made regarding the direction the team plans to go under center.
"For me, I’m very thorough," said McCloughan. "I need to go through it to make my decision."
Frankly, it would have been just as noteworthy had the letter in question included Griffin with Kerrigan, Jackson, Williams and Morris, all of whom—barring injury—are locks to start on offense in 2015.
Griffin may have been a stud as a rookie in 2012, but he's been benched at the end of each of the last two seasons, and by all indications he's regressed.
His 83.7 passer rating during that stretch ranks 25th among 33 quarterbacks who have attempted at least 400 passes. He holds onto the ball longer than almost anyone else in football, he's sacked and pressured more frequently than his peers in D.C., he makes far too many dreadful decisions and is no longer the running threat he was as a rookie.
In fact, after scoring six rushing touchdowns in his first six NFL games, Griffin has just two in the 32 games he's played in since then.
There isn't a team in the league that would commit to a quarterback like that at a time like this, especially with a new GM and a relatively new head coach, neither of whom have any ties to Griffin.
The overriding point? It’s hard to know what’s going to happen with Griffin this offseason and into next. He might be the starting quarterback; he might play well and re-emerge as a young player to watch. As I’ve said before, his final chapter has yet to be written. But, right now, it’s hard for the team to sell him that way.
In January, McCloughan wouldn't rule out drafting a quarterback with the No. 5 overall pick in April. They could draft a quarterback, sign a free agent like Mark Sanchez, acquire a veteran like Jay Cutler or promote a backup like Kirk Cousins or Colt McCoy. We just don't know, and until we do, Griffin should probably be left out of any materials used to promote the team.
Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012.
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