Here is what you need to know on this Tuesday, June 11, 44 days before Redskins start training camp.
Is Griffin a lock to start the season?
When the Redskins held their OTA practice last week, reporters had to park on the grass outside of the gates as the team had a couple of events going on. As I was walking up towards the gates I saw Peter King of Sports Illustrated, who was headed inside also. I went up, introduced myself, and we chatted about the Redskins, Deacon Jones, and his new website.
As we got inside the complex, he said it was nice meeting me and he took a right into the main building at Redskins Park while I headed straight towards the auxiliary building where us media schlubs work.
I don’t think that King went into the building to say hello to Miss B. J. at the front desk (although he probably did do that). He went in to get information.
And here is what he came out with as posted yesterday in his Monday Morning Quarterback column underneath the headline, “RGIII a lock to be ready for opener”:
Griffin had major knee surgery 21 weeks ago. Washington's opener is 13 weeks from tonight. After watching him run sprints around the practice field Thursday, I agree with what Griffin said post-practice: "Without a doubt'' he thinks he'll be practicing with the team when it begins training camp in Richmond in late July ... and, of course, that he'll be ready to go Sept. 9 against the Eagles . . . I get zero sense that the team thinks he won't be ready to play Sept. 9. (emphasis added)
I think that King picked up a fairly good “sense” of the team in the eight hours or so he spent at Redskins Park last Thursday. To be sure, there could always be a setback and, as Mike Shanahan noted last week, the doctors will have the final say in clearing Griffin.
We’re just reading tea leaves at this point but a report like this adds to the belief that it is probable that Griffin will be in training camp early if not at the beginning and it is a near certainty that he will be lining up behind center when the season opens on Monday night, Sept. 9, against the Eagles.
Jenkins learning to trust his surgically repaired knee
Today's schedule
- 10:40--Minicamp workout, open to the media
- 12:30 (approx.)--Players availalbe coming off of the field, Robert Griffin III and Mike Shanahan press conferences.
In case you missed it
- Kerrigan looks to build on last year’s success
- Enemy Intel: Giants missing starters at OTAs
- Cofield feels at home at nose tackle
- Can Orakpo take it to the next level?
Days until: Training camp 44; Preseason opener @ Titans 58; Final cuts 81
Tandler on Twitter
My deepest condolences for everyone who covers the #Patriots. #TebowTime
— Rich Tandler (@Rich_TandlerCSN) June 10, 2013
