The decision of whether the Ravens keep Robert Griffin III is one of the most debated 53-man roster calls around the NFL.
When it became clear that Griffin wasn't going to play in the Ravens' preseason finale against the Washington Redskins, the theories began. Does that mean he's made the team? Are they keeping him healthy for a trade? Should fans and the media read anything into that decision!?!
"No," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "We decided to play the other two guys. … Robert really didn't need to play. He's played a lot so far in our eyes."
Even though Griffin facing off against the team that drafted him No. 2 overall in 2012 would have brought his comeback story full circle, Griffin's case to make the Ravens' roster has been signed, sealed and delivered.
Now it's up to General Manager Ozzie Newsome, Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta, Head Coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens' top decision-makers and God, says Griffin. Griffin is at peace with what he's done.
"When you put in the hard work and you do everything you possibly can to put your best foot forward and try to show the team you deserve to be here, there's no stress," Griffin said. "I'm not going to stress about anything. I'm going to go to practice tomorrow and see what happens after that."
The Ravens have practice Friday, which will be geared toward getting ready for the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills. The deadline for 53-man rosters to be finalized is Saturday at 4 p.m.
"I'm not going to be worried about it," Griffin said. "It's in God's hands."
And what does his gut say?
"I want to be here, so that's what my gut says," he said with a laugh.
Griffin played well in his four games and two starts. He completed 27-of-41 passes for 243 yards and tossed two touchdowns and one interception. He would have had three touchdowns and zero interceptions had it not been for a pair of drops.
Griffin also showed that he's totally healthy and running well again (and even learned how to slide). He took off 11 times for 52 yards.
"He's a very good quarterback. He looks like a starter to me," Harbaugh said. "Certainly a backup in this league, without question. I mean, that's not even close."
Griffin started his interview with reporters Thursday thanking the Ravens for giving him another chance after he was out of the NFL all last year. He thanked his coaches and teammates for teaching him and accepting him.
"It's been fun – and relieving," Griffin said. "When you sit out of football for a year, no one really expects much out of you and they don't expect you to come out and perform at a high level. Luckily, with the guys around me, I was able to do that."
Griffin still has his star power. Asked what he's learned about himself over the last year, he cracked a smile and said, "Not to quote Drake, but I'm going to quote Drake. I feel like I've been tried a lot in my career, but I'm resilient – for real."
Griffin encouraged those battling adversity – something he faced a lot of when he went from the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year to jobless five years later after multiple injuries – to always keep fighting.
"It's the people that don't give up that end up succeeding," he said. "When you finally get there, you'll appreciate the journey."
So has Griffin re-arrived?
"There's no doubt that you want Robert Griffin on your team," Harbaugh said. "He makes our quarterback room better and stronger. ... I would like to have him on the team; we'll just have to see how the math works."
Check out the best shots from Thursday night's preseason finale at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 30-20 at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, MD.
