Some poor romantics had their hopes dashed today. Rather than become reborn in another simple, vertical offense with athletic weapons on the outside in Cleveland, Robert Griffin III couldn’t outrun what seems to be his destiny — derailing his career with a serious injury just as an opportunity arose.
Griffin broke a bone in his shoulder in his first regular season game and promptly hit injured reserve, putting the rest of his season in jeopardy.
RGIII’s star-crossed Washington career was the butt of many jokes, but most of the true comedy came not from Griffin’s injuries, but of the schadenfreude of an angry, entitled (and partially racist) fan base cannibalizing what was once its best hope. The Browns are not a hated franchise like the one that bears a racial slur in its name, simply a pitied one. Their signing and starting of RGIII could have been a glorious orgy of redemption, but it instead predictably became a singularity of sadness.
What’s worse, RGIII’s latest injury was due, once again, to his inability or unwillingness to protect himself on runs outside the pocket:
This latest, and perhaps darkest, turn in the Griffin saga produced an outpouring of grief and bewildered resignation on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/smartfootball/status/775404037088960516
browns fans after rgiii news pic.twitter.com/UV4oDxulgs
— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) September 12, 2016
I feel badly for RGIII. But, if given a chance, I think Josh McCown would have won the job in training camp.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) September 12, 2016
Per sources, RG3 is one of a handful of players that are to blame for their injuries https://t.co/wOtBgfxeDL
— Patrick Claybon (@PatrickClaybon) September 12, 2016
#Browns must decide by the third day of the league year in March whether to pay RG3 a $750,000 roster bonus. Trigger for Year 2 of contract.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/xmasape/status/775400296570769408
https://twitter.com/Adam_Jacobi/status/775393194989137920
https://twitter.com/ohholybutt/status/775400866601840640
This is near peak Browns, no? Get #2 pick … trade down. Then lose badly in Week 1 to said #2 pick while new QB gets hurt and placed on IR.
— Jacob L. Rosen (@JacobLRosen) September 12, 2016
Wow RGIII's shoulder MRI tells you all you need to know pic.twitter.com/g4KK4QJQFg
— Ramzy Nasrallah (@ramzy) September 12, 2016
*i will remember you fades in softly in the background* pic.twitter.com/dgmpADPnt0
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) September 12, 2016
(and a brief cameo from our resident Cleveland native, Martin Rickman)
RGIII injury convos: pic.twitter.com/xiKLyuXnID
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) September 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/DAonCBS/status/775406048802988032
Easy to kill RG3 for "being brittle."
Dude had multiple ACL tears, dislocated ankle and now a broken bone in his shoulder.
Ease up a tad.
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) September 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/wfederman/status/775407147748298752
RG3, Tebow and Manziel. All Heisman winners. All-time hype QB's. And they're all done. RG3 just happens to be in the league…
— Bryan Hayes (@HayesTSN) September 12, 2016
RG3 injury hurts Browns chances of getting #1 pick if McCown plays like he did last year. May win couple more games.
Makes this even worse.
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) September 12, 2016
After the Rough Browns Game Yesterday it's made Worse with RG3 going on IR today with a Shoulder Issue!
— Bernie Kosar (@BernieKosarQB) September 12, 2016
"There's a real chance that even if he's healthy 8 weeks from now…he'll of played his last down for the Browns." –@AdamSchefter on RG3
— Carlin vs. Joe (@CarlinvsJoe) September 12, 2016
