Washington Redskins Training Camp: All Eyes on RGIII

With the stroke of a pen and a friendly tweet, Robert Griffin III got Redskins fans excited last week when he agreed to a rookie contract with Washington. But that reaction will pale in comparison to the one Griffin will receive Thursday, when he takes command of Washington's offense on the first day of Redskins training camp.

"The city and the surrounding area are hungry for success and it's something I'm used to," said Griffin, in an interview with ESPN Radio. "The possibilities are endless."

Those are strong words in an election year, but early success is not unprecedented for rookie signal-callers in their first seasons.

"

People are excited about what's going on in DC. Who am I to tell them not to be excited? It's up to us, as a team, to go out there and provide something for people to cheer for.

"

Griffin seems determined to hit the ground running (and passing), but he'll have to manage expectations in his inaugural campaign.

According to Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post, "Griffin has lived through a head-spinning, life-altering transition—from Texas to Washington, from amateur to pro, from regional hero to national pitchman, from college student to multimillionaire, from the face of a small private university to that of the third-most valuable franchise in U.S. professional sports."

That all seems like a lot for a 22-year old to handle, but Griffin appears to be undeterred. He's "ready to get down to business," wrote Washington Post Insider Mike Jones, following a press conference that was held for RGIII on the eve of camp.

Griffin also downplayed his "rock star status" when he took to the podium.

"

The team doesn't look at me that way. They don't look at me as a celebrity. Yeah, I'm their quarterback and I'm going to lead them to victory. But there are no autographs in the locker room, for the most part. I'm not RGIII to them. I'm just Robert.

"

And Robert has had his sights set on DC for quite some time.

Remember the Redskins t-shirt he wore underneath an Adidas hoodie when he had dinner with team owner Dan Snyder in March? Sheinin points out that it occurred five weeks before RGIII was drafted (second overall) and just 11 days after Washington made a blockbuster trade with St. Louis to get into position to choose him.

In a nutshell, Griffin's mind was made up. He wanted to be a Redskin as soon as he knew the team wanted him. And as luck would have it, both sides got their wish when Andrew Luck was selected first by Indianapolis.

"Honestly, it was surreal," Griffin told Sports Illustrated's Don Banks about a pre-draft visit he made to the nation's capital. "You go to a city you've never lived in, and immediately when you get there, you're instantly a star."

But even back then, Griffin knew just what to say if the opportunity presented itself.

"

It's not just about me. It might seem like it's about one guy, but I don't think it is. I think it's about one puzzle piece, because that's all a quarterback is, a puzzle piece.

"

That statement speaks to the character of Griffin and to the type of players Mike Shanahan has sought as he enters his third season as head coach. 

"

"

According to Jeff Diamond of SI.com, Shanahan believes Griffin will excel but only if he is surrounded by teammates who have a will to win. 

"

We've got to surround him with good players. The [John] Elways, the [Steve] Youngs... They all needed good players around them to be successful.

"

And with three weeks of camp ahead, Shanahan hopes to add to the ones he already has.

"I like our team and I think we have a chance to do something special," said Shanahan, who suffered through a 6-10 season (in 2010) and a 5-11 finish last year. "We had a good 2011 draft with all 12 guys still here and we've got a good mix of youth and vets. Hopefully with help from our free agents and draft choices and if we can stay healthy, we can make a good run."

That run begins in earnest on Thursday, with RGIII leading the charge.

For training camp information and times, please click here. Thirteen practice sessions are open to the public, but a free registration form is required to attend. Click here to fill out the form, courtesy of our friends at CSNwashington.com.    

Joe Versage is an NFL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He previously covered the Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens as a television beat reporter. Follow him on Twitter at: @JoeVersage Takip et: @JoeVersage