NFL Awards: Robert Griffin III Wins AP Offensive Rookie Of The Year
By Josh Hill
The NFL is handing out it’s coveted season awards tonight and one man that will be receiving hardware is Washington Redskins rookie sensation Robert Griffin III. Just over a year after winning the Heisman trophy, Griffin III is taking home the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Even though he was second best to Andrew Luck in the NFL Draft last April, Griffin III took the NFL by storm with his high flying playmaking capabilities and his amazing leadership. Some even expected Griffin III to be a bust in his first season but he built on what Cam Newton was able to do in 2011 and took quarterbacking to a whole new level this season.
Griffin III took the Redskins from one of the worst teams in the league to NFC East division champions in a single season. Washington was criticized a little for giving up so much to get Griffin III in the draft, but the two first rounders they surrendered to get him at No. 2 overall seem like a bargain after the season he turned in.
His ACL injury in the NFC Wild Card game really put a damper on things, but Adrian Peterson’s fast recover gives fans hope that Griffin III will be able to get back on track next season and outdo what has ended up being an award winning year for the rookie. Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson were also in the running to get the honor, and while it was a close call all the way around, Griffin III separated himself from the pack all year long.
If you need further justification that Griffin is the winner over Luck and Wilson, think about this: Griffin III was the only quarterback of the three to actually be selected to the Pro Bowl as a starter. Both Luck and Wilson went, but they did so as replacements. That’s not a knock on either of the quarterbacks, but Griffin III really did have one of the most amazing rookie campaigns ever and he clearly deserved the award this year.