“Rex has been great,” Kyle Shanahan said. “I think Robert gets along with him well and definitely always has him to ask questions to with the experience he’s been through. He talks about plays, how he sees it, so he always has that opinion of somebody who’s been through it. I think Robert enjoys having him around.”
Griffin concurred.
“Rex has been awesome,” he said. “He helps us interpret what Kyle and Matt are trying to tell us without us taking it literally. He’s good at that stuff because he’s played. He knows how we see it; he knows how the coaches see it.”
Grossman has also tried to help impress upon Griffin the competitive mind-set and even ego that a quarterback should have in the NFL.
In Week 4 against Tampa Bay, the Redskins held a lead, but the Buccaneers were driving. As Griffin and Grossman watched from the sideline, Grossman looked at Griffin and told him, “You want them to score so you can go win the game. . . .You have to start preparing yourself for that drive.”
Tampa Bay did score, taking a 22-21 lead with 1 minute 56 seconds left, and then Griffin delivered the first comeback drive of his NFL career as Washington won, 24-22.
Grossman plays down his influence, however. “I don’t know if it’s helped or not. I’ve tried to stay out of his way because he’s handling it all really well for a rookie, for a veteran. He’s just on it. I understood that after watching him a couple regular season games — this guy’s different. He’s got that ‘it’ factor. He doesn’t need advice. But, some times I can’t help myself.”
Grossman will let his future play out this offseason, when he weighs the pros of re-signing with Washington or entertaining whatever interest other teams direct his way. Grossman has confidence that he can still start for an NFL team.
“There’s no doubt,” he said. “I feel like I’m better now than I was when I did start every game. The only time I did start every game, we were 15-4 and made it to the Super Bowl, and I feel like I’m a better quarterback than I was then.”
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