'Like a little kid' RG3 returns to practice with Browns

BEREA, Ohio (AP) Robert Griffin's day of thanks came a little early.

For the first time since breaking a bone in his left shoulder in Cleveland's season opener, Griffin practiced on Wednesday, a significant step for the quarterback whose career has been undermined by injuries and whose future remains unclear.

Griffin arrived at the team's facility not knowing if he had been formally designated for return by the team. Once he received news he was going to practice, RG3 could hardly contain himself.

"I put my shoulder pads on and went out and ran around like a little kid," he said.

On the field, an energized Griffin slapped hands with teammates during drills, and at one point ran and jumped on offensive coach Pep Hamilton's back.

His wait was over, and Griffin celebrated.

Griffin's return is a much-needed dose of positive news for the winless Browns (0-11) , whose season took the first of many downward turns when he got hurt late in the fourth quarter of his Cleveland debut.

His injury changed the direction of Cleveland's season. It not only sidelined him for 10 weeks, but his latest medical setback prevented the Browns - who signed him to a two-year, $15 million in March - from being able to assess the 26-year-old as their franchise quarterback, a position that has remained both baffling and vacant over the past 17 seasons.

While there's no guarantee Griffin will play again this season, he believes he can be Cleveland's starter for seasons to come.

"No doubt," he said. "I have the confidence in that. I can't speak for coach or anyone else, but they've expressed that to me. I still feel I can be the guy for this team, for this organization, and I look forward to going out and proving it."

First, he has to prove he can take contact, and the way Browns quarterbacks have been getting pummeled lately, that test could include being run over by a truck.

Griffin is scheduled to undergo another medical test to determine if the bone in his shoulder has healed completely. If he's cleared, there's a strong chance he'll play in one of Cleveland's final four games after the Dec. 4 bye.

Until then, Griffin can continue practicing as the Browns have 21 days to decide whether to activate him or keep him on injured reserve. Griffin made it clear he wants to play.

He's only made one start in 30 months, and questions about his durability followed Griffin from Washington to Cleveland. Griffin, though, maintains he's far from finished.

"I'm 26 years old, man, I'm not 45," he said. "I've got a lot of years of football left and I'm real grateful. It's Thanksgiving, time to give thanks, and I'm thankful for the ability to have so much experience in the league, good and bad to this point at 26 years old, being in multiple offensive systems. It's all a learning process. I'm still young, I'm still a kid and I look forward to having a long career. I know it's going to take a lot of hard work and I'm willing to do it.

"I'm not afraid of hard work."

Griffin impressed Cleveland's coaches and his teammates with his willingness to help while he was sidelined. He stayed engaged in meetings, doing all he could to help the Browns snap a losing streak now at 14 over two seasons.

"He wants it badly, to be out there with his teammates," coach Hue Jackson said. "He wants to do the work and be a part of it and help us get to where we want to go. I have a great respect for that. He has been part of the grind the whole time. It is a good showing by him to show that he wants to be out there. Obviously, he could have kind of fallen off totally, but he didn't. That is a plus for him."

The Browns have two first-round draft picks next year and may use one on a quarterback. Griffin might be able to alter those plans, but it's not his motivation.

"I can go out and play or not play and they can make that decision," he said. "I want to be here. I want to play. I want to help this team win. Whatever they do next year, that's up to them and I can't focus on that because I can't control that."

NOTES: QB Josh McCown will start Sunday against the Giants, returning to the lineup after rookie Cody Kessler sustained his second concussion last week. Jackson said Kevin Hogan will back up McCown, who took a devastating hit from Steelers defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt after replacing Kessler. "Josh thought he was Barry Sanders for a second there," Griffin joked. ... Browns LT Joe Thomas was given Wednesday off to rest his knee.

Griffin throws 2 TD passes in Browns' 24-13 loss to Falcons

Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III
(10) reacts after tight end Gary Barnidge scored a
touchdown during the first half of an NFL preseason
football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday,
Aug. 18, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Robert Griffin III threw two touchdown passes in the first half in his home debut for Cleveland in the Browns' 24-13 exhibition loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.

Griffin found wide receiver Terrelle Pryor streaking down the right sideline on Cleveland's second drive of the game for a 50-yard scoring strike. Griffin connected with tight end Gary Barnridge for a 22-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

Griffin, who signed with the Browns (0-2) after being released by Washington, was 6 of 8 for 96 yards in four series. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner also gained 36 yards on three carries, including a 22-yarder.

Devonta Freeman scored on a 19-yard run to cap Atlanta's first drive. Matt Ryan played three series and completed 6 of 11 passes for 78 yards.

Atlanta (2-0) trailed 13-10 at halftime, but went ahead on Brandon Wilds' 32-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

ROOKIE WATCH

Falcons: LBs Deion Jones and De'Vondre Campbell were in the starting lineup. Jones, a second-round draft pick, played in the middle while Campbell, taken in the fourth round, played on the weak side.

POSITION BATTLES

Falcons: QB Matt Simms, who is competing with Sean Renfree for the No. 3 spot, directed a 15-play, 98-yard drive for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Browns: K Patrick Murray, who is competing with Travis Coon, made an extra point after Cleveland's first touchdown.

INJURY UPDATE

Falcons: PK Nick Rose handled all of the team's kicking duties because of injuries. PK Matt Bryant didn't play beacuse of tightness, according to the team. P Matt Bosher left the game with a chest injury after taking a big hit from LB Tank Carder covering a kick. DE/LB Vic Beasley (shoulder), RB Terron Ward (ankle) and S Kemal Ishmael (shoulder) were also out.

Browns: WR Corey Coleman, the team's No. 1 draft pick, has yet to play in the preseason because of a left hamstring injury. RT Joe Thomas (back), CB Joe Haden (ankle) and WR Andrew Hawkins (hamstring) were also out. S Rahim Moore was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion.

NOT READY YET

WR Josh Gordon (quad) returned to practice Tuesday but didn't play. He is suspended for the first four games of the regular season after missing the entire 2015 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Browns sign QB Griffin III

"The 100 Yards" Staff Report

The Cleveland Browns added some much needed depth to their QB position on Thursday by signing former Washington Redskins quarter back Robert Griffin III.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to join the Dawg Pound and help build something here in Cleveland," Griffin said. "Coach Hue and Pep, I had a great meeting with them. I really believe in what they preach and how they can help not only me as a player but this team win games and that's what we're all about.

"I'm just excited to come in and compete. Nothing's ever been given to me in my life, so I just want to go out and compete with the guys and grow with this team.

The 2016 season will be Griffin's fifth season coming out of Baylor.

Redskins Release Four, Including Robert Griffin III, Dashon Goldson

Statement from the Redskins website.

Robert Griffin III

The Washington Redskins on Monday made it clear that they would like to free up some cap space heading into free agency, which begins at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday.

The team formally announced the release of four veterans: safety Dashon Goldson, quarterback Robert Griffin III, defensive end Jason Hatcher and safety Jeron Johnson.

Griffin III and Hatcher’s releases had been reported by other outlets earlier in the day, while Goldson and Johnson’s moves were a little bit more surprising.

Goldson was acquired by the Redskins via trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers April 3, 2015, giving the team a much-needed veteran presence in the secondary.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection (2011-12), Goldson was immediately embraced as a team captain in Washington. He started 15 games for the Redskins in 2015, collecting a team-best 139 tackles (one for loss) with four quarterback pressures, one interception – which he returned for a touchdown – four passes defensed, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

But Goldson, 31, was set to represent an $8 million cap hit for the Redskins in 2016, according to Spotrac.

Johnson, meanwhile, joined the Redskins last offseason as an unrestricted free agent after spending the first four seasons as a backup safety with the Seattle Seahawks, where he was part of their Super Bowl XLVIII championship team.

Originally tabbed as a possible starter at strong safety for the Redskins, Johnson battled through some injuries and inconsistencies throughout the 2015 season. In all, he played in 14 games with two starts, collecting 21 tackles. He also was a key player on the Redskins’ special teams units, as his seven special teams tackles ranked tied for fourth on the team and he also blocked a punt against the New York Jets that was returned for a Washington touchdown.

Johnson’s cap hit in 2016 was set to be more than $1.24 million in 2016, according to Spotrac.

Griffin III, Hatcher Formally Released
Griffin III endured an up-and-down tenure with the Redskins. The second-overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Griffin III took the league by storm his rookie season, capturing AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and leading Washington to its first NFC East title since the 1999 season.


VIEW GALLERY | 19 Photos
Looking Back On Robert Griffin III's Time With The Redskins
That season, Griffin III enjoyed one of the best seasons by a dual-threat quarterback in NFL history, completing 258-of-293 passes for 3,200 yards with 20 passing touchdowns to just five interceptions, while rushing 120 times for 815 yards and seven scores.

But Griffin III suffered a gruesome right knee injury in the Redskins' Wild Card playoff round matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, and never quite got back to the same player he was in 2012.

After rehabbing the entire offseason, Griffin III got himself ready for Week 1 of the 2013 season. In 13 games, he completed 274-of-456 passes for 3,203 yards with 16 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. He also ran the ball 86 times for 489 yards.

In 2014, under new head coach Jay Gruden, Griffin III was poised to start anew. But early in their Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he suffered a dislocated ankle, keeping him out until Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. He would end up alternating with Colt McCoy at the quarterback position to end the season.

Then, last season, Griffin III was named the team's starting quarterback heading into offseason workouts and training camp. But after a rocky second preseason game -- one in which he was sacked (three times) more than passes completed (two), and one in which he suffered a concussion -- Gruden elected to go with Kirk Cousinsfrom that point forward.

Cousins would go on to set several franchise quarterback records in 2015, and lead the team to the NFC East crown. Griffin III, the No. 3 quarterback the entire season, was active for just one game.

Hatcher, meanwhile, joined the Redskins in March 2014 as one of the Redskins’ most high-profile acquisitions in free agency. He signed in Washington following a Pro Bowl season in 2013 in which he led Dallas with a career-high 11 sacks, including eight against divisional opponents.

A leader in the locker room, Hatcher couldn't find the same level of success with the Redskins, however. He started all 13 games in which he appeared in 2014 with Washington, adding 25 tackles (15 solo), 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

In 2015, Hatcher had 20 tackles, two sacks, a pass defensed and a forced fumble. At 33, he hinted at the possibility of retirement following the Redskins' postseason loss to the Green Bay Packers in January, but has since indicated he might try to play at least one more season in the NFL.

Redskins release Robert Griffin III

"The 100 Yards" Staff Repory

The Washington Redskins on Monday released famous quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Griffin had lost the Redskins' starting quarterback job in August and served as Washington's No. 3 quarterback all season. He was active for one game.

Griffin was the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The RGIII Era is officially over in Washington. Thoughts?