Robert Griffin III rolled to his right and threw a tight spiral down the middle of the field to a receiver that was being closely covered
by a pair of defenders.
Several plays later
Pierre Desir Jersey , he dropped back and launched a 50-yard pass to a receiver running down the far sideline.
Griffin is quietly making a comeback as a backup quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens.
Though starter Joe Flacco and rookie Lamar Jackson have received most of the attention at training camp, Griffin hopes to make some noise at the annual Hall
of Fame game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. It will be his first
taste of NFL action since 2016.
"I'm very excited," Griffin said. "I don't think I can put into words how fun this whole process has been, being here in Baltimore and just having the
opportunity to grow with this team. I just want to go out there and show they
can trust me and hopefully lead us to a win."
Griffin won the Heisman Trophy as a junior at Baylor and was the second overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Washington Redskins. He was the NFL's
rookie of the year before his career was derailed by injuries.
Griffin missed the 2015 season after sustaining a concussion during the preseason. After being released by Washington, he signed with the Browns in
2016. He started the regular-season opener, but sustained a shoulder injury.
Griffin was able to play the final four weeks and was the starting quarterback
the last time the Browns won a game, beating San Diego on Dec. 24, 2016.
He did not play football last year
Kyle Fuller Jersey , but stayed in shape by training at the University of Central Florida. Griffin said he also spent hours watching film, studying the
defense of various NFL teams.
"He has street credibility immediately," Ravens quarterbacks coach James Urban said. "He loves football and had the taste of not being around it for
awhile, so he's hungry and enjoying every moment. We talk all of the time:
control what you can control and when the opportunity comes, you take advantage
of it."
Griffin, 28, worked out with the Ravens a few months prior to the NFL Draft. He performed well enough to earn a one-year deal reportedly worth $1 million
with a $100,000 signing bonus. So far
Gary Zimmerman Jersey , Ravens coach John Harbaugh is confident the team made the correct decision.
"I think it's been great having Robert here. He's a very talented pro," Harbaugh said. "He's a top pick in the draft, so he has talent. He's healthy for
the first time in quite a few years."
Griffin is fully aware that any role with the team will be serving as a backup to Flacco. The biggest question now is whether the Ravens will carry
three quarterbacks into the regular season.
"It will be a tough decision," Harbaugh said. "Any time you keep an one player at one position as extra, it's one less player at another position you
decide to lose. I'm not even thinking about that right now. We'll let that
happen when the time comes."
TENNESSEE TITANS (10-8)
OPEN CAMP: July 25, Nashville, Tennessee
LAST YEAR: Titans swept Jacksonville but missed AFC South title after losing three straight in December. Winning first postseason game in 14 years with
amazing comeback in Kansas City didn't save coach Mike Mularkey, not when he
stuck with OC Terry Robiskie following ugly rout in New England.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: First-time head coach Mike Vrabel
Dalton Schultz Jersey , defensive coordinator Dean Pees, offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, CB Malcolm Butler, RB Dion Lewis, QB Blaine Gabbert,
LB Rashaan Evans, LB Harold Landry.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: DC Dick LeBeau, RB DeMarco Murray
Da'Shawn Hand Jersey , WR Eric Decker, LB Erik Walden, S Da'Norris Searcy, QB Matt Cassel.
CAMP NEEDS: Sign Pro Bowl LT Taylor Lewan to contract extension. Lewan stayed away from mandatory minicamp to make clear he wants new deal instead of
fifth-year option at $9.3 million. QB Marcus Mariota mastering another offense
with third head coach. Develop WR Corey Davis and rest of young receiving
corps.
EXPECTATIONS: For so long, Vrabel was seen as future coaching star, and former Patriots linebacker gets no honeymoon period with franchise coming off
consecutive 9-7 seasons. Mariota is going into fourth season and GM Jon Robinson
has assembled this franchise's most talented roster in decade, leaving division
title and long playoff run as Titans' next step.
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