ASHBURN, Va. (AP) – The Washington Redskins have chosen Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft.

The Redskins’ courtship with the Baylor quarterback culminated Thursday night in the early minutes of the draft.

Washington has been targeting Griffin since making the trade last month to move up to the second spot.

Griffin is the Redskins’ highest draft pick since linebacker LaVar Arrington went at No. 2 in 2000. Arrington made three Pro Bowls in six seasons in Washington.

The Redskins hope Griffin can end their revolving door at the game’s most important position. Washington has used 21 starting quarterbacks over the last 19 seasons.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

(RNN) – Here’s how the first meeting between Robert Griffin III and Washington Redskins management will probably go down.

“Welcome to the NFL RG3! So, we’ve pretty much traded away the future of this franchise to get you. The team around you is mediocre at best, and your coach will do and say anything – including (figuratively) throw his QB under an armada of double-decker buses – to save his job. Have you seen your locker yet?

“Oh, and there won’t be any help coming for a while; the NFL penalized us nearly $40 million in salary cap space. So we can’t afford any free agents. And again, we traded away any chance of improvement through the draft so we could pick you …

“No pressure.”

I bet returning to Baylor for his senior year is looking pretty sweet right now. He may need to borrow the rest of Superman’s gear.

NFL draft, round one: 8 p.m. ET Thursday

The Redskins have gone all in (again) for immediate gratification (again) and a big name player (again). They traded their first round pick (No. 6), their second round pick (No. 39), their 2013 first round pick and their 2014 first round pick for the No. 2 pick this year and a chance to get Griffin.

It was a historical amount to give up; Sports Illustrated reported no team has ever traded three first-round picks for a single draft choice. And with a young signal-caller learning the ropes, the Redskins are likely to struggle, meaning they may well have traded away three, Top 10 picks.

Upon receiving the windfall offer, the St. Louis Rams accepted, yelled “triple-stamped it, no erasies!!” and quickly hung up the phone.

The former Baylor QB and Heisman Trophy winner has all the makings of an elite talent, so it’s no surprise Washington and other teams wanted to move up in the 2012 draft to get him. His combination of speed, elusiveness, passing strength and accuracy would have made him the consensus No. 1 pick in many other years.

One month into his last college season, he had the insane statistic of more touchdowns passes than incompletions.

All indications are he has the maturity and capability to handle the NFL pressure-cooker he will be dropped into. His addition to the much-maligned organization in D.C. will immediately get fans excited and undoubtedly sell plenty of merchandise as well.

But he will have to be really good to balance out what the team gave up to get him. Like “Ladies and gentlemen, your Super Bowl Champion MVP” good.

The ‘Skins don’t have a good track record with, well, anything since Dan Snyder took over as owner in 1999. Since he purchased the team and stadium for $800 million, he has spent about the same on bad deals and only has three winning seasons to show for it.

The franchise’s coaching selections have ranged from no NFL experience (Steve Spurrier) to no head coaching experience (Jim Zorn) to the game passed him by a loooooong time ago (Joe Gibbs) to curmudgeon who publicly trashes his own players to the media (current coach Mike Shanahan).

Yet those gaffes pale in comparison to the free agents they have signed to enormous deals. “Big splash” guys have underperformed or, in Albert Haynesworth’s case, apparently lost their mind after being paid $100 million.

Snyder also seems obsessed with signing “stars” like Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith and Mark Brunell to long-term contracts, even when those “stars” are way past their prime.

The Redskins have not fared much better in the draft. Two attempts at getting a quality quarterback failed with first rounders Patrick Ramsey and Jason Campbell. Also, there were three years when the Redskins had no first-round pick after trading it away in a previous deal – sound familiar?

Washington gets some credit for better draft picks in recent years, like Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. Offensive tackle Trent Williams, the No. 4 overall pick in 2010, will need to stop smoking the funny cigarettes long enough to protect his new teammate, though.

While the expectations are high, Redskins fans and brass should give Griffin plenty of time to improve. And rookie QBs like Andy Dalton and Cam Newton have shown the learning curve from college to the pros is not as steep as it used to be.

The main problems for Griffin will be 1) How will he compare to his fellow 2012 rookie Andrew Luck, and 2) With a coach on the hot seat and an owner and fanbase itching for a winner, how long will the honeymoon last?

It’s a lot to ask of even the most mature 22-year-old. Success or failure, it should make for some really good TV.

Unless you’re a Redskins fan. But if you are, hey, Baltimore’s right up the road, right?

Copyright 2012 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.

ASHBURN, Va. — Robert Griffin III is vibrant and fun-loving. Mike Shanahan is businesslike and no-nonsense. Nevertheless, Shanahan believes they’ll get along just fine.

The Washington Redskins coach assured fans Wednesday that he will let RG3 continue to be himself after the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor is selected No. 2 overall in the NFL draft. The Redskins traded three first-round picks and a second-rounder to the St. Louis Rams to move into the slot.

Shanahan joked that he won’t hold it against Griffin “just because he’s got a lot of charisma and I don’t.”

“He’s a natural leader. … You want guys to lead your football team,” Shanahan said. “Everybody’s got their own way of doing things. Some guys are a little bit more serious. You’ve got to be yourself.”

Shanahan, playing the role of pragmatic, close-to-the-chest coach to the very end, even tried his best to leave just the slightest doubt that the Redskins might not get Griffin, claiming there was a “1 percent of 1 percent” chance that the choice will be Andrew Luck instead.

That won’t happen, of course. The Indianapolis Colts have said they will take Luck at No. 1, and the Redskins have invested a lot of time getting to know Griffin.

“He’s got everything that we look for,” Shanahan said, “and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Shanahan said he will incorporate Griffin’s skills into the Redskins’ offense and anticipates some growing pains along the way. Rex Grossman was re-signed earlier this offseason to be the veteran placeholder in case Griffin isn’t ready to start on opening day.

“You just don’t want to throw a guy in there right away until he feels comfortable,” Shanahan said. “And there’s a growing process. It doesn’t happen right away. Obviously when you give up a first and second, you want that guy to get in there as quick as possible, but you want to do it at the right time and make sure he’s ready.”

Shanahan stressed that he doesn’t expect Griffin alone to turn the Redskins into instant winners. Washington went 5-11 last season, its fourth consecutive last-place finish in the NFC East.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

Is this the Redskins’ next franchise quarterback? Find out on Thursday night. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)While this year’s NFL draft lacks any real suspense (for fans of the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins, at least), there’s a festive mood at local sports bars. Here’s where you can gather with fellow fans to watch the Redskins use the second overall pick, when it’s expected they’ll have the opportunity to draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III:

• The Redskins themselves are throwing a party at FedEx Field, offering free admission to the Club Level suites and showing the draft on the stadium’s jumbo high-definition video boards. Gates open at 6 p.m. The only caveat: You must register in advance through Redskins.com if you want to attend.

• ESPN 980 radio will be broadcasting live from Union Pub on Captiol Hill, even though that bar is a diehard Chicago Bears bar during the NFL season. The Sports Reporters show will broadcast live from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by Doc Walker and Scott Jackson live from 7 to 9 p.m. Look out for Redskins cheerleaders and beer specials all night.

• Ivan Carter of Comcast SportsNet’s “Sports Talk Live” hosts a draft viewing party and NFL Q&A session at BlackFinn Bethesda beginning at 7 p.m. Food and drink specials will be offered until 9 p.m.

• Fan site
Hogs Haven
, the
Ball Hogs
internet radio show and Capitol Hill blog
Cloture Club
are teaming up for an event at Rocket Bar, with special guests and drink specials. There’s a $5 cover charge, but proceeds will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association/

We’ll update this post as we hear about more places to catch RG3 fever.

The team returns 2011 first-round draft choice Ryan Kerrigan, who complements star outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, as well as nose tackle Barry Cofield and end Stephen Bowen–all of whom teamed with Carriker to give Washington a formidable line last season. The Redskins also re-signed veteran defensive end Kedric Golston, and get back 2011 second-round pick Jarvis Jenkins , who has recovered from the ACL tear he suffered last preseason.

“We think the front is about as good as it gets,” defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said earlier this offseason. “But we need to get some stability on the back end. … We’re not done rebuilding and we’re not done doing the things we want to do on defense.”

So despite more pressing needs on offense, the Redskins likely will look to make a draft selection or two to improve depth and add competition on defense. Safety represents one of the biggest needs.

This offseason, the team allowed dynamic – yet oft-injured – strong safety LaRon Landry to depart via free agency. A bad Achilles’ tendon had limited Landry to a combined 17 games in the last two seasons, and he elected not to have surgery during the offseason. The Redskins were leery of making a significant investment in a player who ended the last two seasons on injured reserve.

The team also parted with free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, who battled various injuries and didn’t perform as well as the team had hoped. Washington released him in March.

Six-year veteran Reed Doughty and then-rookie DeJon Gomes saw significant playing time last season. The hope is that Gomes – one of the Redskins’ fifth-round picks last April – can develop into a starter in his second season. But Washington also signed veteran free agents Brandon Meriweather, Tanard Jackson and Madieu Williams during the offseason. None of those players was a full-time starter last season, however.

The team, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, has had contact with Syracuse safety Phillip Thomas, a projected mid-round player. Thomas last season recorded six interceptions, which ranked sixth in Division I football.

Other safeties expected to be available in the third through fifth rounds include Antonio Allen of South Carolina, Michigan State’s Trent Robinson, Aaron Henry of Wisconsin and Janzen Jackson of McNeese State.

At cornerback, DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson return as starters, but Washington lacked a consistent option at nickelback. Kevin Barnes, who split time at that spot with Byron Westbrook, remains under contract, but Westbrook is a free agent. Brandyn Thompson – one of Washington’s seventh-round picks in 2011 – remains on the roster after appearing in six games during his rookies season. The Redskins also added veterans Leigh Torence and Cedric Griffin in free agency.

Talented corners are likley to be available for the Redskins, who have a third-round pick, two fourth-rounders, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh. But the question for a team that also has needs at other positions is how long can they afford to wait before taking one.

“The cornerbacks are going to come flying off the board,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. “… I roughly see 25 to 27 cornerbacks that could be in the top 150, 175. In this league, this pass happy league, you’ve got to have corners.”

One third- or fourth-round option could be Arizona State’s Omar Bolden, who established himself as one of college football’s top corners in 2010, earning All-Pacific-10 Conference First-Team honors that year. But he missed the 2011 season with a torn ACL.

Bolden, now fully recovered, clocked a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at his school’s Pro Day last month and possesses the talent of a higher-round pick. But because of his injury history, he isn’t expected to hear his name called until the middle of the draft.

Oklahoma’s Jammell Fleming, Furman’s Ryan Steed, West Virginia’s Keith Tandy, Iowa State’s Leonard Johnson and Texas A&M’s Coryell Judie also lead a group of cornerbacks projected for selection in the draft’s middle rounds.

Though it is a less pressing need, the Redskins may want to look at inside linebackers. Fletcher and third-year pro Perry Riley are the starters, and Lorenzo Alexander and free agent addition Bryan Kehl are expected to serve as the backups.

Mid- to late-round prospects include Nevada’s James-Michael Johnson, Kyler Wilber of Wake Forest, Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict and Audie Cole of N.C. State.

ASHBURN, Va. — Free-agent linebacker Bryan Kehl has signed with the Washington Redskins after spending the last two seasons with the St. Louis Rams.

The 6-foot-2, 244-pound Kehl has played in 59 NFL games, including five starts, for the Rams and the New York Giants. He has made 58 tackles, one interception, one sack and two fumble recoveries.

Kehl was a fourth-round draft pick in 2008 out of BYU.

The Redskins announced the deal Monday.

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) Free-agent linebacker Bryan Kehl has signed with the Washington Redskins after spending the last two seasons with the St. Louis Rams.

The 6-foot-2, 244-pound Kehl has played in 59 NFL games, including five starts, for the Rams and the New York Giants. He has made 58 tackles, one interception, one sack and two fumble recoveries.

Kehl was a fourth-round draft pick in 2008 out of BYU.

The Redskins announced the deal Monday.

Oh, what could have been were it not for Tim Tebow’s overtime pass. The ending to the Steelers’ 2011 campaign left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth.  

That is unless, of course, you’re a Tim Tebow fan, in which case I hope you savored the moment because your favorite backup has peaked.  

While the team finished 12-4, they were swept by their bitter divisional rivals the Baltimore Ravens.

The two storied franchises have only played each other six times in the last quarter century and Washington is 2-4 against the Steelers.  

The last time the two teams faced off was in 2008 and don’t let the record books fool you. The schedule may have recorded the game as a home game for the ‘Skins but it was far from it. In the second half, the Redskins offense had to go into a silent snap count because of crowd noise.

Big Ben went down with an injury and D.C. native Byron Leftwich came in and put the game out of reach. The box score shows a final score of 23-6 but the game may as well have been a shutout. 

The league’s top-ranked defense, in a cruel twist of fate, would end up costing the Steelers a shot at the Super Bowl last year. But Pittsburgh’s offense, ranked 21st overall, was held back by a hobbled Ben Roethlisberger and uncharacteristically bad running attack.

For Washington, the Week 8 matchup is made worse by their prior week’s matchup against the Giants in New York. I wonder how much will be left in the tank when the Skins arrive in Pittsburgh. 

Free-agent running back Tim Hightower might be back in a Washington Redskins uniform next season, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Washington Post on Saturday.

The four-year veteran visited Friday with the New England Patriots, who also have hosted free-agent running backs Joseph Addai and Ryan Grant.

The source told the newspaper that, despite those visits, the Redskins are still a possibility for Hightower.

The Redskins acquired Hightower in a trade last offseason from the Arizona Cardinals for defensive end Vonnie Holliday and a sixth-round draft pick.

Hightower played in and started five games for the Redskins in 2011 before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. He rushed for 321 yards on 84 carries and one touchdown. He also caught 10 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

The Post reported that Hightower has wanted to return to Washington. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said at the NFL Annual Meeting in March that he wants the 25-year-old to be re-signed, telling the Washington Times that Hightower is “a potential starter on our football team.”