Posted by Michael David Smith on March 5, 2013, 6:56 AM EST
Colts owner Jim Irsay is taking some heat in Washington for comments he made about the Redskins’ use of Robert Griffin III.
In an interview with the Indianapolis Star, Irsay said that if the Colts had ended up with the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft and hadn’t had the opportunity to draft Andrew Luck, they would have drafted Griffin instead. But Irsay then added that he would have made sure the Colts were more careful with Griffin than the Redskins did, suggesting that if Griffin were a Colt, he wouldn’t be recuperating from reconstructive knee surgery right now.
“I wouldn’t have exposed him to injury in the same way they have in Washington,” Irsay said. “My philosophy on quarterbacks is, first and foremost, you’ve got to keep them healthy and on the field.”
Those comments didn’t sit well with some in Washington.
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post noted that Luck was hit a lot last year, and offered this suggestion to Irsay: “maybe worry about your own team.”
Added Rick Snider of the Washington Examiner, “Jim Irsay pops off regularly, but this time the Indianapolis Colts owner misfired.”
Irsay may be right that the Redskins should do more to protect Griffin, both in their offensive scheme (which the owner doesn’t have a whole lot to do with) and with their playing surface (which the owner has plenty to do with). But it’s strange to hear an owner of one team critiquing the way another team uses its quarterback. Maybe Irsay will approach Dan Snyder at the next owners’ meeting to offer his suggestions. But it’s more likely that Snyder will tell Irsay to keep those opinions to himself.
Colts owner Jim Irsay is taking some heat in Washington for comments he made about the Redskins’ use of Robert Griffin III.
In an interview with the Indianapolis Star, Irsay said that if the Colts had ended up with the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft and hadn’t had the opportunity to draft Andrew Luck, they would have drafted Griffin instead. But Irsay then added that he would have made sure the Colts were more careful with Griffin than the Redskins did, suggesting that if Griffin were a Colt, he wouldn’t be recuperating from reconstructive knee surgery right now.
“I wouldn’t have exposed him to injury in the same way they have in Washington,” Irsay said. “My philosophy on quarterbacks is, first and foremost, you’ve got to keep them healthy and on the field.”
Those comments didn’t sit well with some in Washington.
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post noted that Luck was hit a lot last year, and offered this suggestion to Irsay: “maybe worry about your own team.”
Added Rick Snider of the Washington Examiner, “Jim Irsay pops off regularly, but this time the Indianapolis Colts owner misfired.”
Irsay may be right that the Redskins should do more to protect Griffin, both in their offensive scheme (which the owner doesn’t have a whole lot to do with) and with their playing surface (which the owner has plenty to do with). But it’s strange to hear an owner of one team critiquing the way another team uses its quarterback. Maybe Irsay will approach Dan Snyder at the next owners’ meeting to offer his suggestions. But it’s more likely that Snyder will tell Irsay to keep those opinions to himself.
