The Cleveland Browns announced Thursday that they have signed free agent quarterback Robert Griffin III.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal is for two years.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to join the Dawg Pound and help build something here in Cleveland,” Griffin said in a statement, via ESPN’s Pat McManamon. “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.”
Browns executive Sashi Brown clarified that the signing of Griffin doesn’t take Cleveland out of the running for a quarterback in the draft.
“We were able to see and feel his passion and commitment to re-establishing himself as a starting quarterback in this league and his embrace of the hard work that will be is essential to his development,” Brown said of Griffin. “We’ve been clear on the importance of improving and stabilizing the quarterback position for our franchise. We have said that the draft is and will be our primary focus, but we will always look to complement the draft through free agency, and this is one of those examples.”
Griffin sounds like he’ll have the inside track on the starting job, particularly if the team doesn’t draft a quarterback. It also shortens the list of potential quarterback suitors by one, and likely makes Josh McCown available via trade, with the New York Jets said to be one interested party.
