The Panini America Interview: An Exclusive Chat with the Redskins’ Robert Griffin III
Through the first 10 games of a mostly spectacular rookie season, it’s safe to say that Washington Redskins’ quarterback Robert Griffin III has been something dangerously close to a perfect (No.) 10. Just as he did while winning the Heisman Trophy at Baylor University, Griffin has met even the most inflated preseason expectations by remaining a high-character good guy off the field and a devilish, double-edged dilemma on it.
Shutdown that laser-guided rocket-launcher of a right arm and he’ll deploy Fred Astaire feet and sprinter speed to make plays you’d swear were leaked from a Madden 14 prototype. Take away his running lanes and force him to the air? Yeah, he can beat you that way, too.
And almost certainly, the charismatic Griffin will be flashing that trademark high-voltage smile while doing it.
The Texas native enters this afternoon’s Thanksgiving Day game against the NFC East-rival Dallas Cowboys with more than 2,800 total yards (including 613 rushing), 18 total touchdowns (including a team-leading six rushing) and just three interceptions. He also comes to town as a smoking-hot football-card commodity, something Panini America has known intimately since before Griffin was drafted.
Indeed, Griffin has joined Panini Authentic exclusive Andrew Luck to headline one of the most exciting Rookie Card classes in recent memory, creating a bona fide secondary-market sensation that should only intensify next week with the release of 2012 Absolute Football.
During last May’s 2012 NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles, Panini America’s Tracy Hackler sat down with Griffin for an exclusive interview to discuss, among other things, his tremendous socks appeal, his favorite smart phone app, the one fellow rookie he’s collecting this season and what he’d do if he was in charge of Panini America for one day.
Enjoy the interview. Enjoy the games today. And above all else, happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Panini America.
The Knight's Lance 
I hope some day to meet the great RG3- He was so smooth with everything. He could come up with answers just like that as welll as having a very unique personality. Thanks for sharing Tracy & Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!
I enjoyed the interview. Mr. Robert Griffin III is a class individual. Everyone should be proud to own his cards. “Don’t Kiper It” sounds like it should be an insert set featuring players who never take a play off.
Happy Thanksgiving. Can’t wait for PANINI AMERICA BLACK FRIDAY!
Love it, Charlie. You might be on to something there.
Maybe you could incorporate Mel Kiper himself..and he could help with the checklist!
wow that is a great card rg3 is going to be a great qb happy thanksgiving everyone
I hope he beats the Cowboys today!
Shhhh . . . don’t tell anybody . . . but I do, too.
Wow, class act, great player on the field and cool off the field(and im a huge skins fan)
GO SKINS Today…
Romo ain’t that cool
Congratulations on getting him!
Such a class act!
It would only make the Panini team even more stronger!
Good luck and wishing him a great career!
Happy Turkey day!
Or Happy Ham day!
Cheers!
Peace!
I’m not sure if you guys caught RGIII’s remarkable self-awareness when asked for 5 words the way I did but when he said “whirlwind” I would say that would be the most apt adjective for his presence on the field and his impact on the hobby. I doubt he meant it in that way but it struck a chord with me. Even as a Colts fan and as such a much bigger fan of Luck I really can’t find anything not to like about this guy, he impresses me more and more as time goes on. The Payton comment was stellar as well. Congrats on a great player and guy all you Redskins fans. Thanks to Tracy and Scott for the video!
Kid’s a star in the making, we will see . Happy turkey day!
Looks like the timing of the post was perfect, the kid’s coming out party was today in front of his biggest audience yet!
The video was great. He is a great person and he is clearly in love with his socks!