Mike Shanahan on QB Robert Griffin III: 'He's the starter, period' heading into OTAs

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan announced Sunday that RG3 will be listed No. 1 on the depth chart when the team reconvenes next week for OTAs. "He's the starter, period," Shanahan said at the conclusion of the Redskins' three-day rookie minicamp.

By Ryan Wilson

May 6, 2012 at 2:32 pm ET • 2 min read

RG3 and Cousins roomed together, studied together and even ate a burrito together. (Getty Images)

In quite possibly the most anti-climatic news since the Redskins selected quarterback Robert Griffin III with the second-overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, head coach Mike Shanahan announced Sunday that RG3 will be listed No. 1 on the depth chart when the team reconvenes next week for OTAs. "He's the starter, period," Shanahan said at the conclusion of the Redskins' three-day rookie minicamp, according to CBSSports.com Rapid Reporter John Keim.

The head coach added that it's one of the few times he's excited about the three quarterbacks he has on the roster. The other two: veteran Rex Grossman and the 'Skins' other 2012 draftee, fourth-rounder Kirk Cousins.

There were some blank stares from fans and media when Washington, a five-win outfit a year ago with plenty of needs up and down the roster, took Cousins. But Shanahan considered the move a coup, noting last week that “We have to have depth to win. Hopefully [an injury to Griffin] doesn't happen but you want to be prepared. I thought it was a steal for us at that position.”

Shanahan informed RG3 of the plan to take Cousins should he be available and went so far as to compare it to the John Elway-Gary Kubiak situation in Denver in 1983 when the Broncos traded for Elway, originally taken No. 1 by the Colts, and selected Kubiak in the eighth round.

Griffin, meanwhile, doesn't have a problem with Washington drafting Cousins. "Kirk is trying to make this team just like I'm trying to make this team," he said. "[But] they brought me in for a reason, and I plan to go out and do what I'm supposed to do and that's help this team win." The two quarterbacks even roomed, studied and ate together during rookie minicamp.

"There are no issues there," Griffin said via Keim. "We're cool. We ate a burrito together -- not the same burrito."

RG3 received praise from teammates for his knowledge of the playbook, which should serve him well as he heads into OTAs. And if things go smoothly there, his plan to unseat Grossman as the Redskins starter heading into the 2012 season will be one step closer to reality.

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