Is RGIII The New Face of The NFL?

[12thMan]

There can never be too many RGIII threads, agree? (the Mods just rolled their eyes) I think this could be/should be an ongoing discussion.

It's funny how it took real NFL talent like Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III to shift the conversation away from the leagues's fascination with Tim Tebow. I don't want to turn this into a bash Tebow thread. Please. But the media's constant and, at times, mind-numbing adulation of Tim Tebow really underscored, more than anything else, the NFL's need for it's very own Lebron James, Bryce Harper, or Sydney Crosby. When I think about who's the current face of the NFL, two names immediately come to mind: Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Both players have secured their respective places in history as two of the best to ever play quarterback and are guaranteed first ballot Hall of Famers. That's not up for discussion. But are they truly transgenerational? That once in a generation athlete that rises above his particular sport and has cross-over appeal, such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. As we speak, can we say definitively that Manning or Brady (or Adrian Peterson, for that matter) is the face of the NFL?

I was watching the Wizards-Heat game a couple of weeks ago and was awestruck how Lebron James and other NBA players stopped by RGIII's courtside seat to give him props and congratulate him on beating the N.Y. Giants the night before. That just doesn't happen everyday folks. The likes of Kevin Durant, Marco Rubio, Big Boi, John Thompson and dozens more from all walks of life have publicly expressed how tremendous and phenomenal this kid has been.

My sense is Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin will duke it out over the years for various statistical honors and perhaps a Super Bowl trophy someday, but right now Robert is clearly commanding the attention of the entire sports landscape that transcends statistics and is on the verge of becoming a cultural icon, in my opinion. But what does this mean for the Washington Redskins and Redskins Nation? In years past players wanted to land in the Nation's Capital because you were pretty much guaranteed a big payday and a chance to pad your career statistics before exiting the game. Rarely was it about winning or improving the Redskins standing. Dan Snyder has earned the unfortunate reputation around the league for overpaying washed up players, controversial players, or guys that were flat out busts who just didn't give a damn. The conversation will now be about playing with a once in a lifetime player; An opportunity to rebuild the Redskins brand and possibly a chance at winning a Super Bowl. That's a pretty big deal if you're a Redskins fan.