The Future On Hold

Photo: L. Todd Spencer/AP

“If he can stay healthy.” That’s the caveat I’ve used every time I’ve written about the promising career of Robert Griffin III. In the last few days, my caveat has become a question: “Can he stay healthy?”

For his sake, and the sake of the Washington Redskins, every step must be taken to ensure that the answer will be “yes.”

I’m not going to review the events leading up to his injury in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s Wildcard playoff game against Seattle. Like every fan, I’ve done that in my head non-stop since. I’m not going to place blame. I’m not going to debate about what could be done differently. Instead, I’m going to look forward—to what can be done from here on out—based upon the diagnosis released by Dr. James Andrews after Griffin’s surgery yesterday morning:

Robert Griffin III had successful knee surgery early this morning. He had a direct repair of his LCL and a re-do of his previous ACL reconstruction. We expect a full recovery and it is everybody’s hope and belief that due to Robert’s high motivation, he will be ready for the 2013 season.

The goal of his treatment is to give him the best opportunity for a long professional career.

The last sentence should be engraved on bronze plaques and hung on every wall at Redskins Park.

The goal—the only goal—is to give him the best opportunity for a long professional career. It’s best for the team, best for the fans, and most of all best for him.

If that means he doesn’t take a single snap for the whole 2013 season, so be it.

Now I’m not saying “sit him” at this point, like some are, but I’m also not expecting him to return for Week One. What I’m saying is what so many others won’t admit. I don’t know when he’ll be ready, but I don’t want him playing until he is.

100 percent. Nothing less than that. I am willing to put the future on hold for as long as it takes to give him the best shot at a long professional career and I’m just a fan. The team has to be willing and so does he.

Will next season be the same without him? Of course not. Kirk Cousins is a young, talented quarterback, but he’s a step down and everyone knows it. But he’s still good enough to start for at least half the teams in the NFL, and the Redskins will do fine with him, whether it’s for part or all of the season.This is a good young team moving in the right direction that will only get better with another year of draft picks. Whether or not we can repeat as division champions or even make the playoffs doesn’t matter as much as much as ensuring a long professional career for the franchise quarterback, and a long run of success for the franchise.

The future is on hold, but it’s still bright.

Hail!