Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
By Krista Pirtle
Sports Editor
Now, more than ever, we follow the saying, “You’ve got to see it to believe it.”
Remember that one time when Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III led the Washington Redskins to a 40-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints on the road?
Plus, his stat line was out of control, completing 19-of-26 passes for 320 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions.
People of America, do you believe it?
No matter where Griffin is, it takes seeing his outlandish athletic ability to believe all the hype.
As he was looking for a college to play for, no one wanted to put him in the pocket.
Except for Baylor head coach Art Briles.
During Griffin’s time at Baylor, no one believed that the Bears would make it to a bowl game, but then the team traveled to Houston for the Texas Bowl in 2010.
Last season, a 10-win season seemed improbable. Until it happened.
When Griffin was chosen as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy winner, many people, including ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, said a Heisman Trophy winner could not come from Baylor.
Now, as the No. 2 overall NFL draft pick to the Redskins, not many people were expecting an electric start.
However, Sunday featured Griffin rolling out and firing accurate shots to his receivers, making big-time play after big-time play. His rookie debut surpassed the hype.
What about now?
An ESPN caption read after the game: “[Griffin is] about to stupefy us all with his mind and his talent.”
Well, duh. Did you not see him play against Oklahoma or Texas last season?
Beyond the numbers, one big thing Griffin brings to his team is confidence for his teammates.
Baylor had the RG3 swag last year with its 10-win season, and now the Redskins are starting to feel it too.
What Griffin did for the city of Waco, he is bringing to the nation’s capital.
An air of hope on the gridiron has arrived in Washington, DC, with people “griffining” all over.
Who knows? The president could be griffining as we speak.
