Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III poses for photographs after he was selected as the second pick overall by the Washington Redskins in the NFL draft at Radio City Music Hall, Thursday in New York.
Associated Press

By Joseph White
Associated Press

ASHBURN, Va. — There was no mistaking Robert Griffin III at the NFL draft. The ends of his dreadlocks settled onto a baby blue jacket. His checkered-patterned shirt was offset by a purplish tie with horizontal stripes.

Of course, there were the standout socks. Burgundy and gold stripes, the colors of his new team, with the words “GO CATCH YOUR DREAM.”

“Go catch that dream — because a lot of times when you chase something you never get to it,” he said. “So if you say, ‘Hey, I’m going to go catch my dream,’ you’re already telling yourself that you’re going to get it.”

And, when asked how it felt to be finally chosen No. 2 overall Thursday by the Washington Redskins, he broke into the team’s fight song.

“Hail to the Redskins! Hail vic-tor-y!” said Griffin, singing to Washington reporters by phone from New York. “That’s how I felt. It felt that good.”

The selection of the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor, which was welcomed with chants of “R-G-3!” inside Radio City Music Hall, ends a monthlong courtship aimed at ending a revolving door at quarterback that has hampered the Redskins for two decades.

Targeting Griffin all the way, Washington traded three first-round picks and a second-rounder to the St. Louis Rams last month to move into the No. 2 slot.

Knowing that the Indianapolis Colts were planning to take Andrew Luck at No. 1, the Redskins got a head start by having offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan meet twice with Griffin for a total of six hours to discuss offensive schemes.

The process kept Griffin from experiencing the usual draft-day suspense, but he’s fine with that.

“It would have been pretty interesting to see the Redskins trade up to No. 2 right here in this room and see my reaction, but I’m not mad about it. A team said they loved me and they let everyone know early on that they wanted me, so they traded up and made it happen, so I’m not mad about that,” he said as the first-round selections continued. “A lot of guys in this room right now are feeling a lot of anxiety.”

Griffin is the Redskins’ highest pick since linebacker LaVar Arrington also went at No. 2 in 2000. Arrington made three Pro Bowls in six seasons in Washington.

Much, much more is expected from RG3.

The Redskins have started 21 quarterbacks over the last 19 seasons.

Rex Grossman and John Beck combined to put together a 5-11 record last year, Washington’s fourth consecutive last-place finish in the NFC East.

Head coach Mike Shanahan won a pair of Super Bowls with John Elway and the Denver Broncos in the late 1990s, and he’s pegged his plans for a turnaround in the nation’s capital around the player who did the same for Baylor.

“You’re always looking for that franchise guy,” Mike Shanahan said, “and that term is used without him proving himself yet — we understand that. But he’s got everything that you look for in a quarterback. Hopefully we can get the supporting cast around him and start playing very well.”

Former receiver Kendall Wright catches a ball thrown by former quarterback Robert Griffin III during Pro Day.
Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor

By Tyler Alley
Sports Editor

“They said it was the biggest pro day of all time at Baylor.”

Those words came from quarterback Robert Griffin III at Baylor’s Pro Day on Wednesday. And he was right.

More than 100 media members poured into the Allison Indoor Facility to watch Baylor’s pro prospects run drills and showcase their talent for the NFL scouts.

“Honestly, it’s something that our football program has earned,” head football coach Briles said. “When you go out and accomplish things that our guys accomplished on the field, and you have the talent level that we’ve got stored at Baylor right now, then these kind of things happen.”

ESPN and NFL Network were among the media outlets that attended the pro day. ESPN football analyst Ron Jaworski said it was great to see Baylor receiving as much attention as it did.

“If you would have said five years ago, ‘Hey, we’re going to be at Baylor University on March 21, and the women’s basketball team is going to be in the NCAA and the men’s basketball team in the NCAA, and we’re going to be honoring a Heisman Trophy winner that’s likely to go one or two in the Draft,’ I would have said, ‘What are you drinking?’” Jaworski said.

All 32 NFL teams were represented at the event, but the Washington Redskins brought the most prominent members of their organization, including owner Dan Snyder, general manager Bruce Allen, head coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

Former quarterback Robert Griffin III performs passes for NFL scouts during Pro Day Wednesday at the Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility.
Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor

It makes sense that the Redskins would show so much interest, as the team traded four draft picks to the St. Louis Rams to move up to the second overall pick in the draft and most likely take Griffin.

Griffin was the “headliner” of the day, participating only in throwing drills during the latter portion of the event.

Though Griffin said he had nothing to prove, he still had a strong showing, throwing 84 passes with 78 completions in scripted pass plays.

“We had a lot of fun. That’s what it’s supposed to be,” Griffin said. “It’s not supposed to be stressful. … Lighten the mood. Have guys smiling and having fun. That way if you drop a pass here or there, you can move on to the next one. And we never missed two in a row.”

Many of Griffin’s throws went in the direction of receiver Kendall Wright, who was looking to improve his draft stock after running a 4.6 second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. At the pro day, Wright was clocked at 4.46 and 4.40. “I knew Kendall could run a 4.4 if he had to,” Griffin said. “He just had a bad day at the Combine.”

Wright also dazzled the fans with a one-handed catch during the passing drills.

“Coach Briles always told me play fast and good things will happen,” Wright said.

Running back Terrance Ganaway also participated in drills. He ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, which is seen as an impressive time, especially for a 240-pound back.

“Just working hard. Just going out, showing people I can catch and I can run a little bit,” Ganaway said. “I’m not really worried about too many things. I think they’re going to fall in love with me off of film and not really what I do here.”

Briles said he hoped the hype surrounding the pro day would help lure more recruits to Baylor.

“In our business, that’s what it’s all about. It’s all about recruiting,” Briles said. “We’re on the 2013 class right now. If I was a high school junior right now, I’d be saying, ‘Hey, I want to go to Baylor and get me some of this.’”

Other Baylor participants included: offensive linemen Philip Blake and Robert T. Griffin, defensive linemen Nicholas Jean-Baptiste and Tracy Robertson, linebacker Reggie Rice and running back Isaac Williams.

Linebacker Elliot Coffey was measured but did not participate in drills due to a shoulder injury.