Excitement was on another level when Washington traded for RG3 pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
"RG3! RG3! RG3! RG3!"
Considering how much we'd drank, it's wild how well I remember seeing the news that Washington had traded for the second overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. That trade, that pick, meant Robert Griffin III was coming to Washington.
"RG3! RG3! RG3! RG3!"
I was standing on the patio at a dingy, maybe even dirty, biker bar in Panama City Beach, Fla. It was my buddy Jed's bachelor party, and despite being long out of college, we were on spring break.
That decision, much like the trade, would look quite questionable in hindsight. But that night wasn't about hindsight.
I remember sitting on that patio watching my friends, many whom I'd known for two decades, go absolutely bananas about Washington trading up to get Griffin.
He'd just come off one of the most unbelievable college seasons in history, accounting for nearly 5,000 total yards and 47 touchdowns. He won the Heisman. He had a cool nickname and a megawatt smile.
"RG3! RG3! RG3! RG3!"
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The chanting continued long into the night, and maybe into the morning too.
For Washington fans, for kids from D.C., to that point the night of that trade might have been the single best moment of the 21st century. Seriously.
Things were so bleak for so long, and Griffin was so electric, the high cost of the trade didn't matter. At least not that night in a sea of cheap beer and colorful shots.
At that point Washington fans desperately needed something to cheer for, especially after two years under Mike Shanahan where John Beck, Rex Grossman and Donovan McNabb made starts at quarterback.
Listen, hindsight looks different, but that night in Panama City, there was no hindsight. There was hardly clear sight.
But the whole bar saw that ESPN bottom line crawl announcing Washington traded with the Rams to get the second overall pick, and that RG3 was soon headed to Washington. And the whole bar knew how excited the D.C. boys were.
"RG3! RG3! RG3! RG3!"
