The Cleveland Browns signed free-agent QB Robert Griffin III on Thursday. FOX Sports NFL Insider Mike Garafolo reported that the deal is for two years, with a base value of $15 million and $6.75 million guaranteed.
RG3 deal with the Browns: two years, $15 million. Signing bonus of $3.5 million with $6.75 million in total guarantees.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 24, 2016
Griffin’s deal has $7 million in incentives. So $22 million over 2 years is max value. Browns made a solid commitment here.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 24, 2016
IT’S OFFICIAL.
Welcome to the #DawgPound, Robert Griffin III!
📰: https://t.co/7d1kexnVpU pic.twitter.com/fvaliFSE8u
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 24, 2016
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Griffin can also earn up to $7M in incentives, which would bring the max value to $22M.
Griffin was released earlier this month by the Washington Redskins, who drafted him second overall in 2012.
Griffin released this statement, via the Browns’ website:
“I’m excited about the opportunity to join the Dawg Pound and help build something here in Cleveland,” Griffin said. “Coach Hue and Pep, I had a great meeting with them. I really believe in what they preach and how they can help not only me as a player but this team win games and that’s what we’re all about.
“I’m just excited to come in and compete. Nothing’s ever been given to me in my life, so I just want to go out and compete with the guys and grow with this team. I feel like that’s all I’m really focused on.”
After a strong rookie season (3,200 passing yards and 20 TD passes; 815 rushing yards and seven rushing TDs) that earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, RG3 has battled injuries and inconsistency the past three seasons. He fell behind Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy on the Redskins’ depth chart and didn’t play at all during the 2015 regular season.
In Cleveland, he will fill a big need following the team’s release of quarterback Johnny Manziel, who started six games last season. Josh McCown, who started eight games, now could be on the trading block.
“We are excited about Robert joining the Cleveland Browns. He brings starting experience to our team and organization. He’s a young, athletic, talented passer and he’s really just starting out in this league. Just like every player on our team, Robert will have to earn every opportunity he gets. He will compete with the rest of the quarterbacks on our roster and he helps improve our QB room, which was one of my goals upon taking the job. It’s a special room and we want to put special people and players in that room.”
Browns head coach Hue Jackson signaled there will be a competition for the starting job (via the team’s press release):
With RG3 off the market, there is one fewer suitor for San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick. There reportedly had been mutual interest between the Browns and Kaepernick, who is seeking a trade from the 49ers.
(Article courtesy of foxsports.com)