Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden's decision to send Robert Griffin IIIback to the bench in favor of Colt McCoy shocked some teammates.
"Anytime you see your starting quarterback (get benched), obviously, you're just like, 'Man, that (stinks),' " fullback Darrel Young said after practice Wednesday, per CSN Washington. "I feel for him. I know what type of guy he is. You always want the best for a guy.
"Coach said from Day 1 that he was going to put us in the best situation and do what's right for the team," Young continued. "And this is what he feels is right for the team. So that's the direction we're going."
Running back Roy Helu said he heard about the decision while eating breakfast at work.
"I was surprised," Helu said. "It's not an easy thing playing quarterback in the NFL. If you're not playing well, just being in the spotlight, I sympathize with him."
"It was surprising," added tight end Niles Paul. "I had no control over it, but I know that it's a business at the end of the day. Coach Gruden is the head coach and whatever decision he makes, we all support. (Gruden) said he wanted put us in the best position to win and he feels like this is a decision he had to make."
Teammates said they weren't worried about RGIII bouncing back.
"He's taken it as a professional," quarterback Kirk Cousins said. "He's been upbeat today, stayed positive, worked very hard in practice, was involved in meetings. He handled it how you expect a professional to handle it."
The latest Around The NFL Podcast previews the Week 13 games and reacts to the news of RGIII's benching in D.C. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
