Critics point to Cornelius Griffin's decline in sacks, especially once he became a starter, and a reputation for making a big play, then doing little else.
The critics have an unusual ally.
"I say the same thing," Griffin said. "You show flashes of greatness and then other times it's, 'That ain't the same guy.' "
The Redskins signed the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Griffin hoping they'll see more displays of brilliance. They need it on a defensive line that is considered a weakness.
Griffin wants to prove he was worth the seven-year, $30.8 million deal that got him to leave the New York Giants after four seasons. At that price, the Giants said goodbye without a fight.
In New York, Griffin earned a reputation as a hard worker in the weight room, but an inconsistent player on the field. He had five sacks as a rookie reserve tackle, then just seven-and-a-half sacks over the next three seasons as a starter.
Sacks don't fully measure a lineman's effectiveness, especially at tackle. But even Griffin knew they revealed something about his play. Nagging injuries, he said, played a role. He also knows they don't explain everything.
"It was time for me to make a change," Griffin said. "My first year in New York was OK. But after that I had a downfall. I can't blame it all on injuries because I didn't focus like I should have. Maybe I should have been more selfish trying to make plays. But I'm just trying to play more consistent. No matter how bad I'm hurting, I'm expecting to play well. That's how I think now."
The Redskins like what they've seen. In the preseason opener against Denver, Griffin had a tackle for a loss and a quarterback pressure. He was quieter against Carolina on Saturday, getting penetration at the goal-line, but making no big plays. What they want, though, is the same thing Griffin wants: consistency.
"He's an explosive player," said Greg Blache, the Redskins' defensive coordinator/defensive line coach. "He's very powerful, very quick. When he does his technique correctly, he can be as good as anyone around. He has the talent to do it and he has the focus right now. It's just a matter of getting him to stay that focused and detailed all the time."
If that happens, his signing will be a huge success. Regardless, Griffin said he'll add something to Washington's defense.
"I know I can rush the passer, there's no doubt," he said. "And I never give in. No matter how bad it gets, I'm going to fight."
He learned that lesson before his junior season at the University of Alabama. Two months before the start of practice, his father was killed by a drunk driver.
"You never do get over it, but you go on," said the reserved Griffin, the fifth of seven children. "It's always in the back of your mind. It's tragic, but you have to take and learn from it and it made me a better person. It made me stronger. It also teaches you what's really important and that no matter what happened to me physically, I knew that mentally I'd be all right. I had to grow up overnight and become a man. There was no one to bail me out."
Now the Redskins hope he can bail them out of their line troubles.
"He can be unstoppable," Redskins end Renaldo Wynn said. "He's a no-nonsense guy. He's all business. He helps everyone."
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