RGIII the best player in the NFL?

RGIII was spectacular but Eli Manning was simply…. Clutch

The Washington Redskins battle against NY Giants Sunday afternoon at MetLife stadium was the best game I have seen all season and there’s no question the reason was the ever impressive Robert Griffin III. Coming into this game I wondered how he was going to be able to handle the Giants front seven which I believe is the best front seven in the game. Griffin didn’t just handle them, he manhandled them.

RGIII was 20 for 28 for 232 yards passing and added 89 yards on the ground on nine rushes. This kid is so amazing that the Redskins who have been anemic on offense for over a decade is averaging over 30 points per game this season all thanks to the versatility of their new star QB.

RGIII versatility playing the QB position was not the most impressive part of his game this fine Sunday afternoon. It’s ability to ignore whatever environment his in and just play the game like his in his own backyard that is so impressively scary.

There seem to be no stage or moment too big for him – as he proved in his first game of the season in New Orleans and now in maybe his biggest game of his season thus far against a divisional rival on the road. His poise, confidence and versatility was evident on the huge fourth-quarter fourth-down conversion with the pocket collapsing on him and blue uniforms all-over him in every direction, he scrambled and avoided the Giants pass-rushers and delivered a pass to tight end Logan Paulsen for a 19-yard gain.

But he wasn’t done yet. The Redskins needed a touchdown to take the lead and just three plays later he dropped a beautiful pass right into the arms of Santana Moss for a 30-yard touchdown and the Redskins a 23-20 lead with 1:38 remaining in the game and victory it seemed was at hand.

There was only one problem, the NY Giants quarterback has been the most clutch fourth quarter quarterback in the league the last two seasons and 1:38 on the clock was just all he needed to put this game away. It took just two plays for Eli Manning to connect with Victor Cruz on a 77-yard strike-and-a touchdown and the Giants wiped off their shoulders and walked off the field.

Eli pretty much schooled RGIII on how to win close games in the NFL.

RGIII for MVP?

I was doing my rounds this morning listening to various ESPN Radio channels to hear what the experts think about their various home team performances over the weekend and it was strange that all the talk was about RGIII and the Redskins chances this season. I guess RGIII and the Redskins are the new flavor of the month, with Tim Tebow nowhere to found and Cam Newton crying at every press conference – I can understand why.

On ESPN 980′s the Washington Redskins flagship station, Kevin Sheehan host of the early morning show speculated RGIII would be a leading MVP candidate had the Redskins won on Sunday. Michael Wilbon ESPN analyst said “he is already the NFL’s best player”. He said that on my favorite show on ESPN 980 the Tony Kornheiser’s show. He continued “ they’re gonna have to go no worse than 9-7 and probably 10-6 – I think RGIII’s the best player in the league, I don’t mean best rookie. I think he’s the MVP.”

While the above sentiments I somewhat agree with, Peter King took it to another level, he wrote on ESPN.com that the Redskins would compete for multiple titles with their new QB. He said multiple titles people, multiple! Not one, not two, not three, not four……

I caution everyone to take it down a notch; RGIII plays for the Washington Redskins a team that seems to be tormented by the football gods. How else can you explain an organization blessed with everything needed to be a success in this league: a city and fan base so dedicated its borderline fanatic and an owner willing to spend whatever it takes to get the best product on the field, yet they have had just one winning season in seven years and last won a playoff game in 2005. A Redskins fan would say “at least we better than the Dallas Cowboy” Oops, my bad J

With an organization like this, the expectation for a rookie sensation should be modest so as to be fair to the player. RGIII is sensational and yes if the Redskins had a winning record he probably would be an MVP candidate, but they don’t and there lies the problem. Football is a team sport and RGIII is playing for a team with a lot of demons.

Look no further than their last four losses: Rams 31-28, Bengals 38-31, Falcons 24-17 and Giants 27-23. Somehow they find a way to lose games; a drop ball or fumble or missed field or a penalty, somehow some way they don’t just finish games. It is the same story every season. They have a lot to overcome in DC before they can really say they are back to their winning way.

So, until the demons in that organization are vanquished, let’s take it down a notch and place realistic expectation on Robert Griffin III and his Washington Redskins.

RGIII the best player in the NFL?

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