The Facts: Jay Gruden's announcement Wednesday that Griffin would be the Redskins' starter was an odd one given his stated desire the day after the season for an open competition. But Bruce Allen provided a little more insight into how the organization views the situation. And it comes down to Griffin's health. Allen, speaking on Sirius XM radio, expressed confidence in Griffin's future -- as long as he doesn't get hurt. "If he can stay healthy, he has a high ceiling," Allen said.

Diehards Line: Griffin has suffered two serious leg injuries in his first three seasons, one of which forced him to rehab his entire offseason and one that cost him five games this past season As ESPN.com's John Keim suggested, for a player who needs a lot of work on evolving as a pocket passer, missing time is a definite roadblock. This will be Griffin's second full offseason where he can legitimately work on his game. "You aren't going to win in the NFL unless your quarterback plays well," Allen said. "We've got to play better there. Our quarterback, Robert, has gotten injured. One thing you learn maybe growing and maturing in this league is you've got to protect yourself a little bit more. The No. 1 responsibility is to take the snap the next play. That hurts as you're trying to coach and develop him and learn the techniques coach Gruden wants." For what it's worth, Griffin has started working out at Baylor, where he went to college. As NFL.com noted, "It sounds like he is going to be staying out of the Washington limelight and laying low while working on his craft. Smart plan."