NFC Notes: Jay Gruden, Redskins, Packers

Jay Gruden

• Two videos surfaced of Redskins HC Jay Gruden online Friday.
• One shows him smoking while he’s approached by a person and the other is of Gruden sitting on the ground talking to a woman.
• The Redskins have said they have no comment on the videos at this time. 
• Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that “the videos are more than a year old, if not older than that.”
• According to Florio, some in league circles wonder whether the Redskins may have leaked the video in an attempt to fire Gruden with cause and in turn, cutting off his right to ongoing pay. 
• Florio notes that this is what Washington did a few years ago with GM Scot McCloughan. 

Redskins

Redskins HC Jay Gruden reiterated that he has a plan in place for first-round QB Dwayne Haskins and said there is a “lot of talk” amongst their front office on whether to start him. 

“There’s a lot of talk of what we should do with him, but we’re here every day and I have a pretty good gauge of what we should do with him and what his progression should be like and where he is as far as a quarterback in the NFL,” Gruden said, via John Keim of ESPN. “It’s insane to think I would hold a grudge against Dwayne.”

Gruden added that his decision to start Colt McCoy is because of his experience in their system.

“I knew it a long time ago: It’s going to be Colt and we’ll go from there,” Gruden said. “It’s his sixth year in the system and the other guys just got here in the offseason. It means a lot; confidence in the protections. A lot of it is about being able to protect yourself and obviously knowing the route concepts we’ve been running for a long time.”

Gruden said that if he did not like Haskins, he would’ve started him immediately instead of being patient with his progress. 

“There is a lot that goes into playing quarterback,” Gruden said. “If you haven’t done it, there’s a lot on your plate. Until he gets really comfortable, it’s for his own good. If I didn’t like him, I’d put him out there right now. I do like him. I think the world of him. He’s going to be a great quarterback one day. Time is really important for him.”

Regarding being on the hot seat, Gruden said his priority is to do what he feels is best for Haskins and mentioned that “Week 10 or 12” could be his timetable to start. 

“It’s always hot, but no matter how hot it is you have to do what’s best for the team and the player, and this is not just my opinion — we have a lot of people who know about quarterbacks on our staff,” said Gruden. “We all feel pretty strongly this is the way to go. I take input from everybody. This is the best thing for him. By Week 10 or 12 if we feel more comfortable that he’s more comfortable spitting things out and seeing things and getting the right protection calls and all that, then maybe we throw him in there. Right now it’s important to learn and study and get himself ready.”

Packers

• The Packers upgraded CB Kevin King (groin) from doubtful to questionable for Week 5’s game against the Cowboys. (Matt Schneidman)
• Packers promoted RB Tra Carson to their active roster. (NFLTR)
• Packers waived DE Fadol Brown.