Washington Owner Dan Snyder Ruined His Own Quarterback Star

It’s difficult to fault Robert Griffin III for being egomaniacal when his own egomaniacal owner pushed him to be egomaniacal.

We always suspected that Washington owner Dan Snyder had enabled Griffin. We now know, thanks to an excellently reported piece from The Undefeated’s Jason Reid, that enabled is the wrong word. What happened was much more problematic. Snyder basically gave Griffin superpowers despite him being nowhere near mature or grounded enough to possess them.

Griffin became like an alternate-universe Superman. He tore the roof off the Washington team complex, grabbed Mike Shanahan by the collar and flung him into low orbit. He did this because Snyder let him. He did this because he could.

The lessons from the fall of Griffin, detailed by Reid, apply not just to Washington but across the entire league. Giving too much power to any man not emotionally equipped to handle it can destroy a franchise. 

In Denver, Peyton Manning was the clear leader, but he wielded that power responsibly. In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers can be demanding and tough on teammates, but he is demanding and tough on himself, and because of that is highly respected. In Carolina, Cam Newton is studious and professional and works well with coaches, never flaunting the power he has with them. In New England, Tom Brady is the best quarterback in history, and teammates and coaches genuinely love him.

Snyder gifted Griffin power, failing to realize that power has to be earned—and respect given.

According to Reid, Griffin called a meeting with Shanahan, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur in February 2013 and told them to let him speak without interruption.

First, let’s stop there. I’ve never heard of a quarterback speaking that way to his coaches. Not once. Ever. Quarterbacks and coaches argue all the time. Curse at one another, even. Bill Parcells and Phil Simms used to get into some heated sideline debates. Jay Cutler once cursed out Mike Martz. Brady will curse out a coach or two. Those …

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