Back in July, Osi Umenyora was asked about Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III, and he got sarcastic.
Even the Giants are in awe of RGIII
As the Giants get ready to face the Redskins this weekend, their stars haven’t been shy about admiring Robert Griffin III and everything he’s done in D.C. so far.
Patrick McDermott - Getty Images
“Who is this RG3 guy you guys keep talking about? You talking about Bob Griffin? You guys are giving him a cool nickname already and everything. When he does anything in the NFL we’re gonna call him RG3. Right now he’s Bob Griffin.”
Then, after RG3 took down the Saints in Week 1, Osi showed some respect.
“Oh, um, RGIII? What is he? What does he like to be called? What does he want me to call him? I will call him RG3. If he performs the way he performed that game, his name can be whatever he wants it to be.”
And now, halfway through the season with the Giants getting ready for the Redskins this weekend, Osi and his teammates are even more impressed. From the Newark Star-Ledger, here’s Antrel Rolle:
...of course, (Griffin and Vick are) different. They’re two totally different quarterbacks, and I think that their game as far as their offensive approach is extremely different. RGIII, as you know, he can run the ball. I think he runs the ball a lot more than Michael Vick. I mean, he’s a fast guy. He has a very, very strong arm and I think he’s an all-around quarterback and he’s going to get better with time.”
And then Umenyora again:
“He’s going to be a problem in this league for a long time. We’re going to have our work cut out for us. I actually stopped by the facility and saw some tape of him and I was just like, ‘Wow, this guy’s an amazing talent.’ It’s going to be a big test for us to keep him under control.”
Okay okay, HOLD ON.
All due respect to RGIII and his ridiculousness, but let’s not get crazy. After a weekend where he became “Black Jesus”, maybe all this Giants praise isn’t totally sincere. Remember Tom Coughlin bowing before the Niners’ greatness last week? Even after two Super Bowls, playing the awestruck underdog seems to work over and over again for the Giants (and that’s what makes them so evil).
So yeah, “It’s going to be a big test for us” seems a little extreme for the defending Super Bowl champions talking about a rookie QB. It’s going to be a bigger test for RG3. (And that’s why we’ll all be watching.)
