Robert Griffin III is the franchise quarterback for the Washington Redskins. Any coach that comes in will be dealing with the quarterback for many years to come. The idea he would be involved in the coaching search after Mike Shanahan was fired is not crazy. His relationship with the front office has come under heavy fire, but backup Kirk Cousins believes Griffin will be the deciding factor no matter what.
It has been assumed that Griffin played a role in the firing of Shanahan. The quarterback is very close with owner Daniel Snyder. After he was benched for the final three games of the year despite being healthy, the coach was dismissed from the team. The Redskins have reportedly attempting to sway Baylor coach Art Briles to join the team, but that failed.
Washington is denying any reports that Griffin will be involved in the coaching search in any way. Team spokesman Tony Wyllie told ProFootballTalk.com that Griffin will not be going any kind of recruiting or sitting in on interviews. That job will be left to the people in charge.
Cousins seems to believe differently. "I'm sure Mr. Snyder and Robert and those people will have a lot of input as to who the hire is," Cousins said, via Adam Schefter of ESPN. The quarterback appears all but certain that Griffin will get some say in who the next coach is. Is there a power struggle in Washington? Shanahan certainly felt so. The Redskins have invested three first-round draft picks in Griffin and fully intend on him being with the team for many years to come. It would only seem likely that He gets to have a vote in the new coach.
The reports regarding Griffin's place with the team come after it was reported by the Detroit Free Press that Matthew Stafford is sitting in on interviews for the next head coach of the Lions. The quarterback was present when Jim Caldwell interviewed for the spot and the team believed that was fine and the right thing to do. He is the franchise quarterback and should have say in the next direction the franchise takes.
In the end, should it matter if Griffin sits in on an interview or two? It could make some candidates nervous that a second-year player gets to make decisions regarding the team. The power struggle will continue with the Redskins no matter what because Snyder placed the entire franchise on Griffin's shoulders. Any coach will have to get used to that.
