Redskins plan to exercise Griffin’s option
ASHBURN, Va. — Despite Robert Griffin III’s history of injuries and moves in and out of the lineup, the Washington Redskins plan to exercise the quarterback’s fifth-year contract option for the 2016 season.
New general manager Scot McCloughan opened his pre-draft news conference Monday by saying the Redskins will inform the NFL ahead of the deadline that they will pick up their option, which is worth about $16 million.
“He’s a good football player. He’s got good tape out there,” McCloughan said. “Everyone knows what he did in (2012).”
After being taken by the Washington Redskins with the No. 2 pick in that year’s draft, the Heisman Trophy winner threw for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for 815 yards and seven scores, helping win the NFC East.
But Griffin tore ligaments in his knee in a playoff game against Seattle that season. Griffin also dislocated his ankle last season, missing six weeks. And he was benched late in the 2013 season.
In other pro football news:
• The New York Giants waived running back Michael Cox.
Capitals oust Islanders
Skating around every opponent on the ice, Russian rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the goahead goal with less than eight minutes left in Game 7, and Braden Holtby only needed to make 10 saves, lifting the Washington Capitals past the visiting New York Islanders 2-1 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Capitals now face the Presidents’ Trophywinning New York Rangers in the next round. In other hockey news: • Tyler Johnson scored two goals in his latest stellar performance, and the Tampa Bay Lightning held on for a 5-2 victory over the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, forcing a Game 7 in their first-round playoff series.
UH golf team in NCAA field
The University of Houston women’s golf program earned the first NCAA regional bid in program history and will compete as the No. 12 seed at the NCAA San Antonio Regional at Briggs Ranch Golf Club.
The Cougars will join 17 other teams and six individuals not on those teams for a three-day, 54hole tournament May 7-9. Other teams in the field include No. 3 seed Texas A&M, No. 6 Baylor, No. 10 Texas Tech and No. 11 Texas.
The low six teams and low three individuals not on those teams will advance to the NCAA Championships, slated for May 22-27 at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla. In other college news: • Touted basketball recruit Brandon Ingram is headed to Duke.
Ingram, 6-8, from Kinston, N.C., ended a recruiting battle among Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, North Carolina State and UCLA.
• Texas A&M announced the signing of Anthony Collins ,a transfer point guard from the University of South Florida.
Collins, a 6-1 guard, attended Westbury Christian School.
• Florida guard Eli Carter is on the move again.
Carter, 6-2, announced he will transfer for the second time in three years, becoming the third player to leave the Gators since the end of the season.
• Mike Phillips, who formed the “Twin Towers” with Rick Robey on the Kentucky team that won the 1978 NCAA title, died in western Kentucky. He was 59.
Barnett-Strother Funeral Home confirmed Philips’ death.
• Kansas quarterback Michael Cummings will have surgery on his left knee, which he injured over the weekend during the annual spring football game.
Coach David Beaty said Cummings, a senior, will get back on the field “as quickly as possible” but did not provide a timeline.
Even though he was wearing a red jersey to prevent getting hit, Cummings was tackled accidentally by senior safety Michael Glatczak in the second quarter of Saturday’s game.
Skeeters fall to Riversharks
The Camden Riversharks scored three times in the ninth inning to rally past the Skeeters 3-2 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.
Adrian Martin (0-1) took the loss for the Skeeters (3-2) after surrendering the three runs.