Report: Robert Griffin III's father wants Art Briles as Redskins coach

Robert Griffin III reportedly has clashed with Redskins coaches this season. (Photo by the Washington Post)

As the Redskins' 2013 season deteriorates, reports have surfaced of turmoil inside the organization, locker room and coaching staff. Now Robert Griffin III and his father have become targets for blame. Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reports that a "hardheaded" Robert Griffin III and and his "interfering" father have become problems for embattled head coach Mike Shanahan and his staff.

An example of Griffin's stubbornness reportedly came to a head in a recent game. After an errant pass forced the Redskins to punt, quarterback coach Matt La Fleur told RGIII that part of the problem with the throw was his poor footwork.

As LaFleur continued to talk, Griffin grew impatient and brushed off the instruction.

“I just have to make that throw,” Griffin said, according to two team sources who were on the sideline and overheard the conversation. The reaction was not considered mean-spirited, but it was dismissive and spoke to the larger issue of how difficult Griffin has become to coach this season as he has struggled with physical limitations from his knee injury at the end of the 2012 playoffs.

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Cole reports that Griffin’s father has become a nuisance to the Redskins, acting like the college stage dad that some people warned NFL executives about before the 2012 draft.

In recent weeks, according to two sources close to the situation, the elder Griffin has politicked Dan Snyder to hire Baylor coach Art Briles, who coached the younger Griffin to a Heisman Trophy, to replace Shanahan.

One source who has known the Griffin family for at least six years recently compared the elder Griffin to the late Earl Woods, Tiger Woods' father and a man who many believe lived in the reflective glory of his son’s accomplishments.

The report cites multiple team sources who believe the father’s influence and interference have made this season more difficult for RGIII and the Redskins.

Or as a team source put it: “Robert is not a bad kid. That’s not it at all. But he doesn’t listen right now. You can be Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or the greatest athlete in the world, whoever. But if your footwork isn’t right, you’re going to miss. The ball is going to sail or you’re going to throw it in the ground or whatever. It just doesn’t work.”