The Washington Redskins knew they had drafted a versatile football performer when they selected Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick this spring.
They envisioned the former Heisman Trophy winner as their franchise quarterback, making plays with both his powerful right arm and nimble feet in lifting the once-proud organization from the NFL scrapheap.
But Griffin’s talents are clearly vast, as evidenced by the slew of numerous television commercials he did this summer or even the virtuoso singing performance he delivered during the annual rookie talent show in training camp.
But RGIII showcased yet another, previously unknown skill on Wednesday night after taking to the field at FedEx Field prior to the Redskins’ preseason finale against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Washington’s starting quarterback sat out the game as a precaution to injury, but was happy to do his part prior to its start by warming up his team’s receivers.
Once he was done, Griffin walked over to the 10-yard line where long-snapper Nick Sundberg, holder Sav Rocca and newly-acquired kicker Billy Cundiff were warming up.
Griffin stepped in and attempted a 20-yard field goal, splitting the uprights like somebody who’d been doing it his entire life.
He then grinned before raising his arms in triumph and jogging off the field to the cheers of the fans seated nearby.
Cundiff, the recently acquired former Pro Bowler who became persona non-grata in Baltimore last season after missing a chip shot that could have helped send the Ravens to the Super Bowl, may want to start looking over his shoulder.
Griffin is no stranger to setting goals and accomplishing them in stunning fashion. He was an excellent student in high school who served as his class president while graduating seventh academically. He needed just three years to graduate from Baylor with a political science degree and a 3.67 GPA, including two appearances on the Dean’s List.
In addition to starring in football for the Bears, RGIII was also a standout track star who earned All-American honors in that sport as well after placing third in the 400-meter dash at the 2008 NCAA meet and participating in the Olympic Trials.
Nothing, it seems, is beyond his reach.
