It’s now known that the Redskins plan multiple weekly on-campus meetings with Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III between now and the draft. PFT also has confirmed that the Redskins plan to do the same thing with Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.
Redskins G.M. Bruce Allen hinted at this reality in recent comments to Albert Breer of NFL Network. “In the coming weeks, we will be visiting some other colleges,” Allen said.
As one league source explained it to PFT, the Redskins had no choice but to schedule visits with Luck. If it appears that the Redskins prefer Griffin over Luck (and we consistently have heard that the Redskins do), always-unpredictable Colts owner Jim Irsay could be nudged toward taking Griffin over Luck.
Unlikely as it may seem, Irsay didn’t want to see Peyton Manning go to another team in the way that Irsay’s father, Robert, allowed John Unitas to finish his career elsewhere. The younger Irsay likewise may not want to be strong-armed into not using the first overall pick on the player whom he chooses, in the way that Irsay’s father, Robert, was strong-armed into not picking John Elway.
The irony is that it’s Griffin and not Luck who could be doing the strong arming.
That said, the thinking is that Luck wants to be the first overall pick, which in a roundabout way would offset losing the Heisman Trophy to Griffin, who recently said on Gruden’s QB Camp that this draft has two No. 1 picks. (The fact that the Redskins gave up so much to get to No. 2 bolsters that perception.)
Although Griffin prefers Washington and Washington prefers Griffin, Griffin isn’t expected to refuse to sign with the Colts or otherwise make an overt power play. Given that the new rookie wage scale would allow the Colts to negotiate a contract with Luck in literally five minutes, the Redskins and Griffin and Luck will be left to wonder what’s going on until Irsay decides to let the world know.
Even if Irsay already plans to take Luck, don’t be surprised if he milks the situation for all the media attention it’s worth, holding the decision as long as he can.