Robert Griffin III Chides Media for Using His Name to Create Headlines

On Monday Robert Griffin III’s interview with WJLA made headlines across the American sports landscape since it contained this phrase: “I feel like I’m the best quarterback in the league.” A day later he addressed the situation with a statement at training camp, saying he wouldn’t apologize for what he said and was tired his name is continually used to make headlines.

Here’s the former Heisman Trophy winner’s full statement, via the Washington Post:

Without playing too much amateur psychologist, a professional athlete thinking they’re the best at what they do isn’t necessarily too far-fetched. Is Griffin III the best quarterback in the NFL heading into the 2015 NFL season? No. Is he wrong to personally think he’s the best? Not really.

Suppose Griffin were to have said he thought of himself as the seventh or eighth-best quarterback in the league. That might have been closer to the truth or at least the public’s perception, but it too would’ve have made headlines. Or if we take it a step further and Griffin said he didn’t think of himself as the “best” quarterback in the NFL that too would even make headlines and probably upset Washington fans, too, in the process.

Whatever Griffin III said about his own abilities using the “best” qualifier likely turns into headlines or fodder for debate-style sports programming, i.e. the tedious is Player X an “elite” quarterback.

The irony here, of course, is that in address the situation and mentioning clickbait, Griffin III only set himself up for another series of headlines.

[Photo via USA Today Sports Images]