Zac Boyer will be entering his third season covering the Washington Redskins for The Free Lance-Star this fall. Make sure to follow Zac on Twitter (@ZacBoyer) for the latest updates or e-mail him with any questions at zboyer@freelancestar.com.
Robert Griffin III Signs Rookie Contract With Redskins
By ZAC BOYER | zboyer@freelancestar.com | @ZacBoyer
Robert Griffin III signed his rookie contract with the Washington Redskins early Wednesday, allowing him to officially begin workouts with the team in advance of the start of training camp on Wednesday.
Griffin, selected No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft in April, is the highest-drafted player to have signed his contract. According to multiple reports, Griffin’s deal, a standard four-year contract, is worth $21,119,098 – all of it fully guaranteed, which had been a sticking point in the negotiations.
“Well people….It’s Time to go to Work!!! Off the unemployment line and oh yea HTTR!!!!” Griffin posted on his Twitter account early Wednesday.
The 6-foot-2, 223-pound quarterback was permitted to report to Redskins Park in Ashburn with the rest of his rookie teammates on Monday, but only if he had signed a contract. Players are not able to receive instruction from coaches in advance of the start of training camp; those reporting are only allowed to watch film and work out, which Griffin had been doing at a nearby fitness club with some of his teammates.
The first eight players drafted in April were still unsigned as of Tuesday night, with Griffin the first to face a deadline to report. That led to a push in the negotiations, with Griffin’s agent, Ben Dogra, negotiating a fully guaranteed contract – specifically, one where the Redskins would still pay Griffin in the fourth year if he were released and not the team that would then sign him.
Dogra has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
Griffin, from Baylor, won the Heisman Trophy last season as a junior, setting multiple school records as the Bears finished 10-3.
Josh LeRibeus, an interior offensive lineman from SMU who was chosen in the third round, now remains the only player the Redskins drafted but have not signed.
