Robert Griffin III just turned 31 in February. When he was drafted in 2012, no one in Washington thought he would already be the subject of TV networks’ desires at this point. That is the case though, and apparently, Griffin is a hot commodity.
Outkick’s Bobby Burack reports that the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year and the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner has auditioned for both ESPN and FOX and both are interested in his services. Burack also notes that Griffin has not shut the door on returning to the NFL. He has served as a backup to Lamar Jackson in Baltimore the last three seasons. There could still be a market for him as training camps open.
Robert Griffin III played his college football at Baylor. That could make him an attractive option for FOX, who carries half of the Big 12 conference’s TV rights. The network believes in adding talent that is associated with the conferences it carries.
ESPN controls the other half of the Big 12’s TV package. That network puts less focus on college affiliation. It also offers more channels carrying college football, which means there are more broadcast roles to fill.
Both networks want to utilize Griffin’s college and pro experience according to Burack. That might make ESPN the favorite for his services. The World Wide Leader could use Griffin on NFL programming during the week and then have him in a booth or on a studio show for college football coverage on Saturdays.
Most of the country first experienced Robert Griffin III as a commentator when he was part of Bleacher Report’s streaming coverage of the NFL Draft. He was part of a moment that went viral after saying that former teammate Kirk Cousins couldn’t be happy that the Minnesota Vikings drafted Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond.
“As you’ve seen, Cousins has been collecting checks there in Minnesota for a long time, taking them to 8-8, 9-7 seasons,” Griffin said after already noting all of the things Mond could do that Cousins could not. “If he has a bad start to the year like he did last year, I could see the fans and maybe the organization leaning toward Mond if he comes in and impresses.”
