Robert Griffin III went to Wednesday's meetings and walkthroughs just like he always does. One of five Browns captains, Griffin went about his business and continued to lead despite an injury that will keep him sidelined for at least eight weeks.
"He's going to stay very engaged so he'll definitely be an asset to the team even though he's hurt," fellow captain Joe Thomas said. "Much the way Josh (McCown) was when he was the backup."
Griffin, of course, would prefer to lead from the spot he occupied Sunday in Cleveland's season-opening loss to the Eagles. He's just not dwelling on it because there's nothing he can do to change what happened late in Sunday's fourth quarter, when he took a hard hit near the sidelines and left with a broken bone in his left shoulder.
"It is football but I am just going to continue to be there, keep everything the same, keep the process the same, be there for Josh and the rest of the QBs and the team and be a vocal leader since I cannot go out and be leader by example and play," Griffin, wearing a sling, said Wednesday from the Browns locker room.
"All I can do is take care of what I can take care of, do exactly what the doctors ask me to do. They asked me to wear a sling so I am wearing a sling. Just do exactly what they tell me to do and see what happens in three or four weeks and pray for the best and just keep my mind sharp and ready to roll."
Griffin is set to be re-evaluated within three to four weeks. Because he's been placed on injured reserve, he will not be eligible to play in the next eight games and is not eligible to practice for six weeks.
Just don't expect Griffin to go anywhere during that time.
"I'm still in it with these guys," Griffin said. "I love this team and I am going to be here. I believe in these guys, God willing, I will be able to come back this year and play. I am going to make sure my mind is right and I get my body back righteous so I can have that opportunity. I'm in it with these guys every step of the way."
What's made it tougher on Griffin is the result of Sunday's game coupled with the knowledge he'd come so far in a short amount of time with the Browns. He said Wednesday he was "seeing the game and playing the game" better than he ever has.
He hopes to keep that momentum going while sidelined.
"That is a big testament to the guys in this locker room, to the coaches around me helping me see the game and play the game at a high level, but I could have played better in that game and look forward to having that opportunity to play better later in this year," Griffin said. "I have been through a lot in my career. You fight through a lot of things, but when I came to the conclusion that God has a different story for me to tell right now, this is going to be part of it.
"I look forward to coming back from this and getting a chance to play with these guys and win some games and change the culture in Cleveland."
