RGIII working as mentor for Lamar Jackson through common experiences
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III may be uniquely qualified to advise Lamar Jackson during his rookie year, a role that he's cherishing this summer.
Griffin entered the league with lofty expectations, which he struggled to meet after his rookie year. Both players won the Heisman Trophy during their decorated collegiate careers, and Griffin is trying to ensure that the former Louisville standout will be prepared for the unique challenge of being the face of a franchise.
"I'm trying to help nurture him as much as I possibly can, so that when he flies away, he is ready to fly away. Because when you watch it fly away, at that point it’s up to that bird," Griffin said to Sports Illustrated's Ben Baskin.
The Ravens traded up to select Jackson with the final pick of the first round, and he's now expected to carry the weight of being the future of the franchise, after Joe Flacco's career nears the latter stages.
Griffin believes he can also advise Jackson on the pressure of starring as a black quarterback, noting that he would've benefited from a similar presence when he began his career with the Washington Redskins.
"I try to take that and look at it in a positive way to try to help Lamar navigate a lot of the things that I had to navigate on my own," Griffin said. "I feel like he really trusts me and believes what I'm telling him and I think that's made him a better player already in a short amount of time.
"Is it different being an African-American quarterback in the NFL? Yes, it's different. But you can't look at it as a burden. You can't look at it as something that is going to hold you back. It's a challenge. You have to accept the challenge and move forward with it. Anytime you are athletic enough at the quarterback position and have similar traits to a wide receiver or running back, it's going to be talked about. You have to eliminate that noise and understand that, because I have that ability, I am going to be even greater."
Many expected Jackson to remain on the sidelines during his rookie year with Flacco established as the incumbent starter. It won't be long before Jackson takes the field, however, and having a mentor like Griffin who shares the commonalities of being a Heisman winner with grand expectations could only stand to put him in the best position possible.