All Robert Griffin wants to do is make a name for himself.
If it wasn’t bad enough that the right tackle shared the same name as Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, the man who would eventually become known as RGIII, they also both went to Baylor. But 201 picks after RGIII went No. 2 overall, the Jets selected the other Robert Griffin to be part of their rebuilt offensive line.
Robert Griffin hopes that his 6-foot-6, 330-pound frame will have people forgetting that he shares a name with the more famous Redskins quarterback.
“I’m sick of it,” Griffin said this weekend during the Jets’ rookie minicamp.
“It’s not about the name, it’s about who I was blocking for — blocking for ‘Superman.’ Now I’m on a different level. I’m with the Jets and he’s with another team.”
Last year, right tackle Wayne Hunter was the whipping boy for fans as part of an offensive line that struggled in nearly every facet. Behind Hunter on the depth chart is Vlad Ducasse, ready to enter his third year with the Jets but still very much a work in progress. With a new offensive coordinator in Tony Sparano, a player like Griffin has the chance to come in and earn a starting spot.
What lies ahead for Griffin is unknown but after a strong three days with the Jets, he has the chance to finally emerge from the shadows of his more famous (and for now more wealthy) college teammate.
“I want to make a name for myself; that’s what life is all about. Every man needs to make a name for himself,” Griffin said.
“Big Griff. RGII. Robert. Robert Griffin. Ain’t nothing going to change about my game either. I’m going to be who I am, come play for the Jets, do everything I did at Baylor and do it for the Jets.”
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
