Robert Griffin III has been under fire by fans and observers as his Redskins struggle. Todd Bauders/ContrastPhotography.com

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III
Conference Call, November 27, 2013

Q: The season hasn’t gone exactly as you hoped. How are you mentally dealing with that?
A: You can sit here and, as players, look at your record and be down about it, but I think what we’ve done is just try to make a conscious effort to realize we’ve got five games to make a difference and that’s all we have. That’s all we’re promised right now and that’s the way you have to approach it. You have to constantly tell yourself that and our team is doing that. We have to push forward through these five games and make the most of these five games and not really worry about what’s happened thus far this season.

Q: How would you evaluate your own play so far this season?
A: We’re not winning games, so it doesn’t matter.

Q: How are you feeling coming off that Monday night game?
A: My body feels fine. We’re just focused on winning and taking care of what we can these five games. Right now we’ve got the Giants. It’s Sunday night football. It’s another primetime game and we’ve just got to show up and show out for our fans and go win a football game.

Q: There are some people that say that with the playoffs very slim, you should be getting your body healthy for next year.
A: It’s not in our thought process. You don’t prepare for the next season during this season. Right now, we’re trying to win games.

Q: What are your reactions to Ahmad Brooks’ comments that you shouldn’t be playing?
A: I don’t agree. I said this in my presser earlier: I appreciate his compassion and they have a good defense and they played well and we didn’t play well and we’ve got to play better.

Q: Mike Shanahan said he felt the big factor this year was not having an offseason. Can you talk about that and do you agree it did set you back just not being able to practice in the offseason?
A: I addressed that in my presser also. I don’t use that as an excuse. Anyone can say you sit there and have an offseason… I get to practice every day. Of course that can help, but the coaches want to use that. I’m not going to combat that, but I’m not going to use it for myself as an excuse.

Q: What do you think will be the main thing you take away from this season with all that you have been through?
A: I think you have to fight through adversity. This is the time where you can see a man’s true character. Guys that sit down and fold, those aren’t the guys that you want on your team. I don’t think we have any of those guys on this team. I know for certain that I’m not and a lot of these team leaders aren’t. It just builds your character. The season hasn’t gone how we wanted it to go and it’s frustrating and it hurts, because we know that we’re a better team than what our record shows. That means something. That means we have expectations and our expectations are higher than anybody else’s. We still have to continue to work and use this year as a learning lesson.

Q: A year ago, you played so well and the Redskins were such a surprise. Everything that was being written about you guys was glowing and everything said about you guys was positive. Are you surprised at how quickly it’s turned personally where now people are questioning whether you should play, or what your leadership is like and things like that?
A: Some of the stuff comes with losing in the NFL, the criticism, and you have to be able to handle that. I’ve been criticized before in my life and everything hasn’t been glowing and just rosy, sunshine and rainbows, everything hasn’t always been that way. These are times that can help you as a player and as a team, just sticking together and it can truly define you. You have to figure out how you want to be defined. Some of the other stuff that’s gone personal, it’s unprofessional, but it’s stuff that I can’t really focus on.

Q: Was that something like your father being in the locker room?
A: I still don’t know everything that was said regarding my dad. Like I said in my presser, my dad was in there checking on me. My mom was upset. They were trying to figure out if I was injured or not and they didn’t know. He meant no harm, he means no harm. He’s never overstepped his bounds. He’s my dad and like I told people in my presser, you don’t go after my family.

Q: You’ve taken quite a number of shots this year and you’ve been able to get through that and have been able to come back and keep playing. Has that been a confidence boost, at least physically, for you?
A: No. I think anyone who has known me or has played with me over an extended period of time at any level of this game knows toughness has never been a question. You don’t want to be getting hit that often and that’s as far as you can say. That’s all you can say.

Q: Have you had to cut back your running because of the injury?
A: No. Just going out there doing what the coaches ask me to do.

Q: Your relationship with Coach Shanahan, have there been difficulties? Where would you assess it right now?
A: Just like I said a couple of week ago. We’re just two men that want to win football games and that’s what we have to do. We’re in this together. All of us are, coaches, players, the entire organization. I think everyone realizes that and we have to make sure we come together and find a way to win.