CB Cedric Griffin is visiting the Redskins today

SouthLondonRedskin · Post by **SouthLondonRedskin** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:57 pm

Skeletor · Post by **Skeletor** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:59 pm

I see you're stiff for any griff... ;-)

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:35 pm

He just signed

Skeletor · Post by **Skeletor** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:40 pm

nice! I wonder if Aaron Ross is still coming in?

Skeletor · Post by **Skeletor** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:45 pm

Redskins reel in defensive back Cedric Griffin

Posted by Evan Silva on March 16, 2012, 1:41 PM EDT

AP
ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that the Washington Redskins have agreed to terms with defensive back Cedric Griffin on a one-year contract with a max value of $2.5 million.

Griffin spent his first six NFL seasons with the Vikings as a Cover-2 cornerback. Some NFL teams liked him as a safety prospect coming out of Texas in 2006, however, and Minnesota had considered moving Griffin from corner to safety, before his release last week.

Griffin goes 6-foot and 203 pounds. He could play either cornerback or free safety in D.C. The Redskins are expected to hold a training camp competition at strong safety, involving Reed Doughty and newly acquired Brandon Meriweather.

Griffin was the No. 78 overall player on PFT’s Hot 100.

tribeofjudah · Post by **tribeofjudah** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:23 pm

Make him a Safety.........if he can handle it.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:25 pm

Skeletor wrote:nice! I wonder if Aaron Ross is still coming in?

Yep

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:25 pm

I like it. I'd like to see at least one lineman get a look in free agency--preferably a RT. We can find quality interior linemen in the 3rd round-4th round where we have 3 picks.

CajunSkin · Post by **CajunSkin** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:59 pm

Not crazy about this signing. Or the Meriweather signing either. Hopefully I'll be made a believer.... I like Ross though.

SouthLondonRedskin · Post by **SouthLondonRedskin** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:41 pm

Skeletor wrote:I see you're stiff for any griff...

Very good!

Should I be getting stiff for this Griff though...?

I don't know a lot about him, an early draft pick with couple of ACLs behind him is about all I've got.

Is he in the same league as Hall and Wilson or is he an upgrade...???

CanesSkins26 · Post by **CanesSkins26** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:32 pm

Tore his left ACL in 2009 and the right ACL in 2010. Benched in 2011. Looks like training camp fodder.

Skeletor · Post by **Skeletor** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:49 pm

he actually tore both in 2010. One in the playoffs in January and the other during the 2010 season.

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:50 pm

ACL repairs are like oil changes in the NFL... I hope he can be more then camp fodder.

What's the cb depth like? Barnes, Westbrook, and Buchannon still on the squad?

Skeletor · Post by **Skeletor** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:02 pm

Buchanon was cut last year. Westbrook was not tendered, so is a free agent, and Barnes still on the roster...

Skinsfan55 · Post by **Skinsfan55** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:25 pm

CanesSkins26 wrote:Tore his left ACL in 2009 and the right ACL in 2010. Benched in 2011. Looks like training camp fodder.

With respect he played in all 16 games in 2011, forced three fumbles, picked off a pass and defended 9 passes. 2011 was one of his best years. It looks like he had a resurgence AFTER his injury and both Pro Football Focus and Scouts Inc. think he's a starting quality defensive back.

I think you're mistaken here.

CanesSkins26 · Post by **CanesSkins26** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:34 pm

Skinsfan55 wrote:
CanesSkins26 wrote:Tore his left ACL in 2009 and the right ACL in 2010. Benched in 2011. Looks like training camp fodder.

With respect he played in all 16 games in 2011, forced three fumbles, picked off a pass and defended 9 passes. 2011 was one of his best years. It looks like he had a resurgence AFTER his injury and both Pro Football Focus and Scouts Inc. think he's a starting quality defensive back.

I think you're mistaken here.

Nope, he was benched for the last two games of 2011.

He returned as a starter in 2011, but wasn’t quite the same, and was replaced in the lineup for the final two games of the season. The Vikings released him earlier this week, saving $5.2 million against their salary cap.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/post/cedric-griffin-redskins-agree-to-one-year-deal/2012/03/16/gIQA8l2mGS_blog.html?tid=pm_sports_pop

CanesSkins26 · Post by **CanesSkins26** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:42 pm

Still, something never seemed right with Griffin, and not just because the surgeries sapped so much explosion from a player who even at his peak was never special.

"I saw some speed deficiency there," the personnel director said. "He's got good instincts and he's physical, so you like those things about him. Plus, he's got good size. He's not one of those little guys like Asher Allen. But corners are a little bit like running backs -- when they start pushing 30, you start looking for younger."

http://m.1500espn.com/pages/sportswire.php?sPL=pelissero_in_cedric_griffins_mind_he_was_done_with_vikings_for_good030812

Since the end of the 2011 season, it has been thought that cornerback Cedric Griffin's time on the Vikings' roster was going to be limited. He is due just a shade over $4 million in salary, and after two reconstructive knee surgeries and his abysmal performance for the better part of last season, he doesn't fit into the Vikings' plans over the long-term, even on a team with a secondary as bad as Minnesota's.

According to Tom Pelissero from 1500 ESPN, it sounds like Griffin is already well aware that he's not going to be back in purple next season. I've read a couple of things online that say Griffin wasn't interested in taking a pay cut. . .and why would he be, considering he's got a cap number of a shade over $5.2 million, and isn't going to get anywhere near that on the open market.

But, as Pelissero notes, there were plenty of times this past season where it had become clear that Griffin had no desire to be back, including the part where he got benched for nearly three full games for (apparently) deciding that he wanted to play outside of the Cover-2 scheme and got absolutely humiliated a couple of times.

http://www.dailynorseman.com/2012/3/8/2855578/cedric-griffin-wont-take-pay-cut-likely-gone-from-minnesota

Griffin was cut last week by Minnesota, where he played for six years. He came back after tearing the ACL in both knees in 2010 to play in all 16 games last year, but he wasn't able to regain his previous form, was benched late in the season and expressed dissatisfaction with his demotion.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/wires/03/16/2020.ap.fbn.redskins.griffin.0148/index.html

Griffin is big and physical enough to play safety. The Vikings discussed moving him to safety last year when he struggled so badly at cornerback that he ended up benched late in the year.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/55490/redskins-bolster-secondary-with-griffin

Skinsfan55 · Post by **Skinsfan55** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:48 pm

I think they're playing loose with the word "benched" when he appeared in every game.

This is from Scouts Inc:

Griffin became a cap casualty in Minnesota but still possesses the overall athleticism, size and strength for a secondary defender. Griffin fills the alley well in run support and understands angles and how to maintain leverage defending both the run and pass. He can be physical in block protection and stays active to the pile. Griffin is a good player and very productive when healthy, but there are durability concerns moving forward with a neck and knee injury in his medical history.

This is from Pro Football Focus on twitter:

Redskins fans, a move we like! Cedric Griffin is not a bad player to take a look at for a season at that price.

This is from Rotoworld:

Part of the Vikings' veteran purge last weekend, Griffin lands with a team that already has two veteran, starting cornerbacks under contract in DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson. Griffin has torn both of his ACLs since January 2010, but arguably had his best year since 2008 last season. Even if he is the Redskins' nickel back, he should be in line for plenty of snaps. It's also possible he could see time at safety.

Skinsfan55 · Post by **Skinsfan55** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:49 pm

In any case, the characterization of him as "camp fodder" is way, way off.

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:53 pm

Griffin played collegiately at Texas where he was a first-team All-Big 12 selection as a senior and a member of the 2005 Longhorns National Championship team. Griffin attended Oliver Wendell Holmes H.S. in San Antonio

I don't know what his physical condition is, but I know do know that he is from my high school and as far as I know, he is the first one to be a Redskin. Love it!

Go Huskies! Go Skins!

http://www.realredskins.com/rich-tandle ... ender.html

CanesSkins26 · Post by **CanesSkins26** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:21 pm

Skinsfan55 wrote:
CanesSkins26 wrote:Tore his left ACL in 2009 and the right ACL in 2010. Benched in 2011. Looks like training camp fodder.

With respect he played in all 16 games in 2011, forced three fumbles, picked off a pass and defended 9 passes. 2011 was one of his best years. It looks like he had a resurgence AFTER his injury and both Pro Football Focus and Scouts Inc. think he's a starting quality defensive back.

I think you're mistaken here.

Just looking at the stats of a corner is pointless.

Nothing that you posted says that he's a starting quality player. Pro Football Focus glowingly said he was "not a bad" player. High praise there!