5 replacements for Robert Griffin III in Cleveland
By John Buhler
Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Robert Griffin III has suffered a serious shoulder injury Week 1. Here are five replacements for Griffin in Cleveland.
In his first start with the Cleveland Browns, quarterback Robert Griffin III might have ended his career. After lowering his shoulder into an Eagles defender, RGIII has a broken bone that has forced him onto IR.
This means it’s time for the Browns to consider their next play, with RGIII out. The most obvious play is to tank and then draft Deshaun Watson with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. They can’t do that until April, though, so who should they turn to in the meantime?
5. Geno Smith
Orchestrating a trade with the New York Jets for backup quarterback Geno Smith would be a desperate play by the Browns, but Cleveland might now be in the boat. Smith was once a great gunslinger for the West Virginia Mountaineers in college, but has failed to do much of anything in the NFL in three seasons.
Perhaps this has more to do with being in a defense-first football culture with the Jets. Smith’s head coach for the first two seasons of his career was Rex Ryan. Few coaches in the league are as defensive-minded as Rex, and that was a detriment to the development of Geno’s offense.
Smith’s only other NFL head coach has been Todd Bowles — another defensive minded stalwart. While Bowles has brought stability to the Jets by going 10-7 in his first 17 games as head coach, he too is defensive-minded. Chan Gailey’s offensive system seems to be very niche, as not all NFL quarterbacks tend to thrive in it.
New York will go with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center until something else changes. The Jets already have two other work in progresses at quarterback in injured Bryce Petty and rookie Christian Hackenberg. Maybe it is time to trade a third quarterback project for a Browns draft pick? Cleveland will bite on Smith if it doesn’t have any other quarterback options on the market.
Next: 4. Michael Vick