RGIII Says the Eagles Were Showing Heavy Interest

By the way Robert Griffin III tells it, the Eagles were hot for the quarterback heading into April’s draft.

“I met with the Eagles. Coach Reid told me they were very interested in me, that you never know what could happen,” said RGIII. “I really enjoyed my meeting with him but obviously things didn’t work out, so I’m here with the Redskins and I’m proud to be here.”

Washington is happy to have him. Even though the Redskins are tied for last place in the division with the Eagles at 3-6, the fan base is encouraged because of the play of their rookie signal-caller. Griffin has completed 66 percent of his throws for 1,993 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 529 yards and six scores.

Of the five rookie quarterbacks that have started this season, RGIII is tops in completion percentage and quarterback ranking (93.9).

On Sunday, Nick Foles will become the sixth member of the rookie class to get a start.

“I didn’t get to know Nick that well throughout our college careers, but I was able to be in the same group, be around him at the combine,” said Griffin. “He’s a really cool guy. All the rookie quarterbacks that I’ve had a chance to meet have all been good, down-to-Earth people who seem like they are pretty good leaders. I don’t know what it is about this class, but every now and then you get a group of guys in the same class…and things just seem to click with those guys.”

Griffin and Foles will square off in Washington Sunday at 1 p.m. Maybe if things broke a little differently, Griffin would be wearing green.

“When I met with the Eagles at the combine that was the first time I thought that they were even thinking about drafting me, or moving up to pick me. Other than that, I just tried to keep an open mind so wherever I went, I’d be happy,” he said.

Andy Reid made it sound like it wasn’t all that hot of a pursuit.

“I love talking to all those quarterbacks, and he was one of them,” said Reid. “We weren’t in a position where we were going to be picking him, but I wanted to see what he was all about. I liked what I saw, yeah.”

It cost the Redskins three first-round picks and a second-round pick to move up four spots — from No. 6 to No. 2 — to select Griffin. The Eagles, starting from the 15th slot, would have had to give up a king’s ransom to make it happen.

Early returns suggest the steep price was worth it for the Redskins.

On Wednesday, RGIII offered some advice for Foles as he gets set to make his first start.

“Take what’s there,” said Griffin. “Coaches are going to put you in a position to make plays, just go make them.”

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