Griffin goes No 2 overall to Redskins

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — There was no mistaking Robert Griffin III at the NFL draft. His ends of his dreadlocks settled onto a baby blue jacket. His checkered-patterned shirt was offset and a purplish tie with horizontal stripes.

And, of course, there were the socks. Burgundy and gold stripes, the colors of his new team, with the words "GO CATCH YOUR DREAM."

Griffin was selected No. 2 overall Thursday night by the Washington Redskins, ending a monthlong courtship aimed at ending a revolving door at quarterback that hampered the franchise for two decades.

The Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor is the Redskins' highest pick since linebacker LaVar Arrington also went at No. 2 in 2000. Arrington made three Pro Bowls in six seasons in Washington.

Much, much more is expected from RGIII.

The Redskins have started 21 quarterbacks over the last 19 seasons. Rex Grossman and John Beck combined to put together a 5-11 season last year, Washington's fourth consecutive last-place finish in the NFC East. Coach Mike Shanahan won a pair of Super Bowls with John Elway and the Denver Broncos in the late 1990s, and he's pegged his plans for a turnaround in the nation's capital around the player who did the same for Baylor.

The Redskins traded three first-round picks and a second-rounder to the St. Louis Rams last month to move into the No. 2 position. Knowing that the Indianapolis Colts were planning to take Andrew Luck at No. 1, Shanahan and his staff focused on Griffin. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has already met with Griffin multiple times.

Griffin turned the Bears into winners again, leading the school's first back-to-back bowl appearances since the early 1990s. A threat with his arm as well as his legs, he shattered virtually every game, season and career passing and total offense record in the Baylor books.

He threw 37 touchdown passes last year with only six interceptions, amassing 4,293 yards passing and 699 yards rushing. The Bears culminated a 10-3 season with a 67-56 win over Washington in the Alamo Bowl.

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Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP