ASHBURN, Va. -- Robert Griffin III is vibrant and fun-loving. Mike Shanahan is businesslike and no-nonsense. Nevertheless, Shanahan believes they'll get along just fine.
Redskins coach Mike
Shanahan can't wait
to begin working with QB Robert Griffin III, Steve Wyche writes. **More ...**
The Washington Redskins coach assured fans Wednesday that he will let RG3 continue to be himself after the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor is selected No. 2 overall in the NFL draft. The Redskins traded three first-round picks and a second-rounder to the St. Louis Rams to move into the slot.
Shanahan joked that he won't hold it against Griffin "just because he's got a lot of charisma and I don't."
"He's a natural leader. ... You want guys to lead your football team," Shanahan said. "Everybody's got their own way of doing things. Some guys are a little bit more serious. You've got to be yourself."
Shanahan, playing the role of pragmatic, close-to-the-chest coach to the very end, even tried his best to leave just the slightest doubt that the Redskins might not get Griffin, claiming there was a "1 percent of 1 percent" chance that the choice will be Andrew Luck instead.
That won't happen, of course. The Indianapolis Colts have said they will take Luck at No. 1, and the Redskins have invested a lot of time getting to know Griffin.
"He's got everything that we look for," Shanahan said, "and I'm looking forward to working with him."
Shanahan said he will incorporate Griffin's skills into the Redskins' offense and anticipates some growing pains along the way. Rex Grossman was re-signed earlier this offseason to be the veteran placeholder in case Griffin isn't ready to start on opening day.
"You just don't want to throw a guy in there right away until he feels comfortable," Shanahan said. "And there's a growing process. It doesn't happen right away. Obviously when you give up a first and second, you want that guy to get in there as quick as possible, but you want to do it at the right time and make sure he's ready."
Shanahan stressed that he doesn't expect Griffin alone to turn the Redskins into instant winners. Washington went 5-11 last season, its fourth consecutive last-place finish in the NFC East.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
