John Matthews
WMAL.com

ASHBURN, VA — (WMAL) The NFL’s biggest freak show has just gotten more freaky. Again.

ESPN reported Sunday that high-ranking front office managers and coaches on the Redskins’ staff want to either trade or cut quarterback Robert Griffin III, but they are getting resistance from team owner Daniel Snyder. The sports network also reported that the team has had trade conversations with several teams concerning RGIII, but has found no potential takers thus far.

Griffin, who was slated to be the team’s starting quarterback before he suffered a concussion in the team’s preseason game against Detroit earlier this month, has not played nearly as well as his two backups, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy, during the preseason. Griffin was on the bench during Saturday’s game against Baltimore after doctors refused to clear him to play, citing neurological concerns stemming from his earlier concussion.

Several media reports have indicated that even if he remains with the team, Griffin will not retain his starting quarterback position, and that Cousins will instead open the regular season September 13th against the Miami Dolphins. Coach Jay Gruden refused to name a starter when he spoke with reporters following the Redskins’ 31 – 13 win over the Ravens Saturday. Cousins completes 20 of 27 passes, threw one touchdown and one interception in the victory.

Griffin may be difficult to trade. The team exercised an option during the offseason to retain Griffin next season at a cost of $16 million. If Griffin is injured for any reason entering next season, that salary will be guaranteed to Griffin, and it may prove difficult to find a team willing to take on Griffin with that much money tied to him. The Redskins could choose to cut Griffin, but that would require the team to take a $6.7 million dollar cap hit against this season’s sarary cap, and any team would then be able to pick up RGIII.

The Redskins signed a new general manager during the off-season, who was supposedly guaranteed the right to make all roster-related decisions for the team. If Snyder refuses to let Griffin be cut or traded, it’s clear that guarantee for GM Scott McCloughan is now null and void.

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