Former Washington coach Jay Gruden and quarterback Robert Griffin III disagreed on the time they spent together with the franchise and took their grievances out on social media.
Gruden, who coached the team during Griffin’s final two seasons in 2014 and 2015, commented on the Philadelphia Eagles’ inability to protect Jalen Hurts during their Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gruden went 35-49-1 in six seasons as Washington’s head coach and was fired after the team got off to a 0-5 start in 2019.
“If I ever put a QB through what Philly is putting Jalen through, I apologize,” Gruden posted on social media. “Pick up a blitz!”
Griffin apparently wasn’t amused in responding, “Say WHATTTT?”
Gruden then came back, asking: “U weren’t prepared, Robert?”
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The back-and-forth insults were just getting started.
“You told me you didn’t know how to coach a QB who could throw and run like me, so looks like you weren’t prepared Jay,’ Griffin said.
“You are right. We didn’t have a good enough staff,’ Gruden said. ‘Sorry. Hope all is well with ya.”
Griffin then told a story about how Gruden wanted him to challenge teammates publicly and didn’t have his back when Griffin was ripped for doing so.
“There was a moment that happened in D.C. that is vividly remembered,” Griffin said. “Jay Gruden went to a press conference and he undressed me at that press conference in a way a coach should never undress his starting quarterback. It was after a game and I said in the press conference that ‘the best players in the NFL have the guys around them play at an extremely high level. No one is out there doing it on their own.’
‘It’s the fact that he has zero self-awareness and zero integrity, because even though he asked me to do something he didn’t have the balls to have my back,” Griffin added.
“You really wanna play this game?” Gruden said in response.
“I’m not playing any games, I’m retired. You have a free invite to come on the show and discuss. Face to face. I know where all your bodies are buried Jay. Don’t play with me,’ Griffin said.
“You weren’t good enough. Kirk [Cousins] was better. Cleveland didn’t want you. Baltimore [didn’t] either. Quit blaming me,’ Gruden added in a post, which was later deleted, and ended the conversation by telling Griffin to “go race a pigeon.’
