Robert Griffin III to Begin Participating in Team Drills Tuesday

In Robert Griffin III health-related news, the Redskins quarterback confirmed weekend reports Monday that he will begin participating in 11-on-11 team drills starting Tuesday.

“That’s the plan,” Griffin told reporters as the Redskins began their last week of training camp in Richmond. “I don’t think it’s a huge step. I just think it’s time to get back out there with my teammates. I've proven I can protect myself and I'm dang near close to 100 percent, so I feel good and now I'm glad that Coach [Mike Shanahan] feels the same way."

Griffin has been limited to 7-on-7 drills by Shanahan, who has been following a strict plan as his star quarterback recovers from offseason knee surgery, one that Griffin called "predetermined." Griffin admitted Monday that he does not like Shanahan's restrictive plan, but will go along with it if it means starting Washington's season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles Sept. 9.

"That's the one thing I don't understand, but like Coach said, and he's 100 percent right, I don't have to understand," Griffin said. "I don't have to like it, but at the end of the day if he plays me Week 1 and I'm ready to go then I'll give him a salute and I'll go play my butt off for him."

Part of that plan is keep Griffin out of preseason action, but RGIII intends to push for some playing time in the Redskins' third exhibition game against the Buffalo Bills Aug. 24. 

"Coach has been saying if things go great these next couple days and next week, then maybe," Griffin said. "But it's a 'hard no' right now. It's my job to make it a 'soft no' and possibly a 'yes.'"

Even if Griffin does not appear in a game before the start of the regular season as stipulated in Shanahan's plan, he reiterated Monday that his plan is to reassume his position as starting quarterback by the start of the regular season.

“There’s no doubt I’m playing Week 1," he said. "That’s just the way I feel about it.”


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