Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has been very open and candid with the media in recent weeks and despite possibly airing his team's dirty laundry over how his recovery from knee surgery is being handled, the second-year signal caller has no regrets and even less plans of changing who he is.
"It sucks. That's why I had to come out and make that statement," Griffin told reporters following controversy over himself and head coach Mike Shanahan having conflicting opinions over the timetable of his knee injury, according to ESPN.
"But I sat down and talked to a few people to make a decision. Do I stop being who I am and stop being honest with you guys and give you guys ammunition to turn against this team? Or do I just go into a shell and [New England Patriots head coach] Bill Belichick it all week? But I'm just gonna continue to be who I am."
Belichick is notoriously cold to the media, not giving reporters much insider information about the team and not giving them much to work off of. Griffin, on the other hand, is the exact opposite.
Griffin, 23, doesn't want to follow in the footsteps of Belichick and many professional athletes by staying silent and being careful that what he says doesn't turn into a bigger story and an off the field distraction. He says what's on his mind.
An example of Griffin showing no hesitation in spilling his guts occurred last week, when he told the media that he and Shanahan haven't seen eye-to-eye on his recovery timetable. Griffin originally hurt himself in a Week 14 game against the Baltimore Ravens last season when he twisted his knee and sustained a Grade 1 LCL strain.
He returned in Week 16 to face the Philadelphia Eagles and led the 'Skins to victory. Griffin then re-injured his knee in a Jan. 6 wildcard playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, amid controversy that he wasn't cleared to play after the original injury in Week 14. Griffin underwent surgery on Jan. 9 and is still recovering, though he told reporters last week he's somewhat at odds with Shanahan over the timetable for his full return.
Griffin finished his first season going 258-for-393 for 3,200 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions and also rushed for 815 yards on 120 attempts for seven touchdowns.
Regardless of the disagreement, which many criticized Griffin for telling the media about the controversy, the quarterback reportedly practiced against the Redskins defense for the first full practice since last season on Wednesday. Griffin is eyeing a full return for Washington's Week 1 game against the team's AFC East division rival Philadelphia Eagles Sept. 9 at home, but still needs medical clearance.
Regardless of everything, Griffin has insisted he won't change who he is.
"If something like that does happen, you make a statement and make sure everybody gets it clear," Griffin said per ESPN, "but I don't think I'm gonna change who I am just because people take my words and use them against me."
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