Cleveland Browns: RG3 should not feel pressure in 2016

Robert Griffin III does not have to face high expectations in his first season as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

The Cleveland Browns are one of the few teams who can hold an offseason press conference and get fans excited for a season that starts in September.

Introducing Robert Griffin III earlier this week was a great move by the Browns, but one that may give fans a false sense of hope for the upcoming season.

Griffin came out and said all the right things including the famous line of “no pressure, no diamonds,” but fans must stay level when watching one of these annual press conferences.

The Browns are not projected to do well in 2016, which is a vast understatement in itself. With a solid draft and a training camp where the players remain healthy the team may be able to surprise some, but there will be no hope of a playoff berth.

A major rebuild is underway, and Griffin was brought in to serve as a placeholder quarterback until a rookie is drafted and given the chance to turn the franchise around.

This does not mean Griffin cannot come in and prove that he is still the star he was when the Washington Redskins gave up the farm and drafted him in 2012. He would be helped out if Josh Gordon was reinstated, but that possibility is not looking good as the NFL has been quiet on Gordon when a decision was supposed to be announced in the past two weeks.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

• How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
• Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
• 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
• Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
• 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target

But no matter how the team does, the results of the season should not fall solely upon Griffin’s shoulders. He talked about the existence of pressure to perform, but there is no pressure at all.

He is coming in to a broken situation with low expectations. If he plays poorly, the dismantled offensive line will be cited. But if he plays well, the season will be viewed as a borderline miracle, and one where Griffin turned his career around in a hopeless situation.

He may not even be the starter in 2016, as Jared Goff or Carson Wentz could be drafted and beat out Griffin for the starting spot. So Griffin should focus less on the pressure of being a starting quarterback, and more on making sure he stays healthy and makes improvements this season. If he can do that, he can secure his spot as a starter in 2017, either in Cleveland or with another team.