This is the first time I have been disappointed in RGIII

[sempre_victrix]

I am disappointed in the coaching staff for not taking him out after the first half. How can you be down on a guy who is basically playing an NFL playoff game on one leg? Seriously, I could have beaten him in a foot race and I am a 48 year old white guy who was slow in high school.

[LoudMouth12thMan]

When Bird was no longer effective due to a bad back, he hung it up.

Mike Shanahan lost his nerve today and the Redskins paid for it.

This is laughable. Bird played with a bad back for years. I was a huge Magic and Bird fan as a kid. Go watch the Bird vs. Magic documentary on Netflix. Bird fought through back pain for almost a decade if my memory serves me correct.

NO, and I mean NO, true competitor would ever pull themselves out of a game unless they knew they couldn't get it done. He truly believed he could compete, period.

This game was NOT Robert's fault. He didn't play well, but all this heat he's getting is completely undeserved. Frankly, I don't believe for one minute Cousins would have done any better. Not enough data to prove otherwise.

[chet06]

Yep, sure do. But then again, I work construction, not at a daycare center. There's a whole lot worse things out there than a cold. But regardless, the answer is yes. Because I won't be the one to let anyone down. If I go home, it will be because one of my superiors says I need to, and I'll argue it until they force me to. Because, you know what? It sounds great to everyone that I should stay home and not get anyone sick. But what does everyone say when that job that only I knew about gets forgotten that day? All of a sudden, it's my fault.

RG3 knows that too.

lucky for RGIII he has Cousins as a back up....you sould tell your boss if you have a super contagious disease or sickness that is the case....in a hypthetical situation...

[Zazzaro703]

They do when they're not helping the team win anymore.

I just watched the RG3 press conference. What I heard was a guy who's heart was in the right place, but who's ego got the best of him. "I'm the best option for this team". Well, yes that is true Robert, but only when you're at least close to 100% and can push off your plant leg to make a good throw. Or be able to run the read option and be the true threat you were earlier in the season. After that play in the 2nd quarter when his knee buckled a bit and he went out of bounds and THREW his helmet off he should have been out of the game.

He's basically had everything go his way for the better part of the last 2 years. I absolutely love the guy, he has the heart of a Lion (Redskin actually),...but his ego got the best of him. You can tell Mike is enamored of the kid and trusted him,..but he has to separate himself in that situation and make the best decision for the team and Robert's future.

I gotta say anyone that thinks this I would guess have never played a high level sport. Football players, specifically QBs play hurt all the time and would NEVER take themselves out of a game of this magnitude until they knew they couldn't play anymore. All of the player analysts are saying the same thing. Cutler came out that one postseason and got roasted as a coward. Robert is the best option for this team, he also had a huge part in getting us to a position to win a playoff game. This is what these guys work for the entire season. There is absolutely NO way to expect Robert to react any differently. It's up to the coaching staff to pull the plug and if I'm Shanahan and I ask my star player if he is ok to go and he says yes.... Again he has earned the right how do you take that away from him? What happened happened, no reason to blame anyone. We got beat, but I have a feeling we will be seeing Seattle in the post season a lot in the coming years. Also, I guarantee not one redskin player would call Robert selfish for wanting to play. We will see.

[chet06]

They do when they're not helping the team win anymore.

I just watched the RG3 press conference. What I heard was a guy who's heart was in the right place, but who's ego got the best of him. "I'm the best option for this team". Well, yes that is true Robert, but only when you're at least close to 100% and can push off your plant leg to make a good throw. Or be able to run the read option and be the true threat you were earlier in the season. After that play in the 2nd quarter when his knee buckled a bit and he went out of bounds and THREW his helmet off he should have been out of the game.

He's basically had everything go his way for the better part of the last 2 years. I absolutely love the guy, he has the heart of a Lion (Redskin actually),...but his ego got the best of him. You can tell Mike is enamored of the kid and trusted him,..but he has to separate himself in that situation and make the best decision for the team and Robert's future.

I know Robert felt a responsibility to the team as the Captain,...understandable. Mike need to make the decision and pull him out.

Agreed all great points

[redskins55]

Let it go... Just let it go.. RG3 got us a 14-0 lead and we couldn't close the deal! Period!!

[jadams5214]

Many are missing a key point here. Fine if you don't believe RG III should have taken himself out as a player and captain of the team.

BUT players take themselves out of games ALL THE TIME for a rest. Why not at least sit out a series or two, see what Cousins can do and then come back in the game if necessary.

Shanahan deserves the blame though - how could he not at the very least sit RG III for a couple series and see if Cousins could spark a moribund offense? The offense was awful from the 1st quarter on and not even trying something different has to fall on Shanahan...

[Trung Canidate]

We should've pulled him. The whole game I was just hoping he wouldn't get hurt rather than thinking we had a chance to win. Our offense looked terrible, absolutely terrible. We held them to 13 points into the 4th, Reed Doughty played the game of his life and we decided to not switch it up until it was forced upon us. Terrible coaching, and terrible decision by RGIII to stay in the game. I love the guy and how passionate he is and while he IS the franchise, he should know that no matter how we get the win he's apart of the success. In high school my team was 28-0 heading into the state championship before we lost, because our stud pitcher decided that he was better than the next man even with a partially torn labrum and it ended up costing us a chance at a perfect season. ALWAYS put the team before your desire for glory, even if you're a superstar like RGIII.

[Son of Gadsden]

lucky for RGIII he has Cousins as a back up....you sould tell your boss if you have a super contagious disease or sickness that is the case....in a hypthetical situation...

That's your opinion. And that's the difference between you and RG3.

But at the same time, if I'm that bad, my boss should have no problem telling me to go home.

[respectgibbs]

Is it possible for an injured RG3 to play poorly DESPITE his injury to some of you people?

It's kind of the perfect situation for him. Play injured and no one will ever blame you for poor play (you know, it's just that he's injured).

[Son of Gadsden]

Jesus.

Im done with ES for a while. Pathetic.

I'm with ya.

[Zazzaro703]

The only thing I'm really sore about is having to concede rookie of the year to Wilson. If not for hurting his knee again before the 2nd TD I think we win the game with ease and Robert wins ROTY.... But sadly that's not how the story played out and Wilson stepped up and won his team the game. Robert had a better regular season, but not by much and I feel this clinched it for Wilson. Honestly, hats off to the kid well deserved.

[Probos]

I gotta say anyone that thinks this I would guess have never played a high level sport. Football players, specifically QBs play hurt all the time and would NEVER take themselves out of a game of this magnitude until they knew they couldn't play anymore. All of the player analysts are saying the same thing. Cutler came out that one postseason and got roasted as a coward. Robert is the best option for this team, he also had a huge part in getting us to a position to win a playoff game. This is what these guys work for the entire season. There is absolutely NO way to expect Robert to react any differently. It's up to the coaching staff to pull the plug and if I'm Shanahan and I ask my star player if he is ok to go and he says yes.... Again he has earned the right how do you take that away from him? What happened happened, no reason to blame anyone. We got beat, but I have a feeling we will be seeing Seattle in the post season a lot in the coming years. Also, I guarantee not one redskin player would call Robert selfish for wanting to play. We will see.

Yes, I never played in the NFL -- I'm guessing you've never either. What's your point?

You need to re-read my post. I clearly said that it was on Shanny to make the decision to pull him -- and it was understandable that Robert would want to stay in the game.

As Robert matures as a player he will realize what's the right thing to do. He was not at his best and should not have been in there after the 2nd quarter of the game. Also his knee looks like it was further damaged beyond the LCL sprain.

[Bubble Screen]

The only thing I'm really sore about is having to concede rookie of the year to Wilson. If not for hurting his knee again before the 2nd TD I think we win the game with ease and Robert wins ROTY.... But sadly that's not how the story played out and Wilson stepped up and won his team the game. Robert had a better regular season, but not by much and I feel this clinched it for Wilson. Honestly, hats off to the kid well deserved.

ROTY is voted on prior to the playoffs.

[Probos]

Is it possible for an injured RG3 to play poorly DESPITE his injury to some of you people?

It's kind of the perfect situation for him. Play injured and no one will ever blame you for poor play (you know, it's just that he's injured).

WTF are you talking about?

Haha,...