Denver Broncos

Report: Broncos, Elway were concerned about RG3's character

Published Mar. 25, 2016 10:09 a.m. ET

Dan Graf

The Cleveland Browns signed free-agent quarterback Robert Griffin III on Thursday, but one team that apparently wasn’t interested – despite a rather large hole at the position – was the Denver Broncos.

According to KUSA News in Denver, Broncos GM John Elway checked around on Griffin and didn’t like what he heard.

A month ago, when the Broncos thought Brock Osweiler would return to be their franchise quarterback, Denver general manager John Elway thought briefly about Griffin as one of several potential backups. But after making a few phone calls, Elway was concerned about Griffin’s character. Elway never did express interest in the former Washington quarterback who was the NFL’s Rookie of the Year in 2012 but had several fallouts with Coach Mike Shanahan, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and teammates.

The story doesn’t say who Elway called, but he did play quarterback for Mike Shanahan on two Super Bowl-winning Broncos teams in the 1990s, so you can draw your own conclusions.

The Broncos – who have lost Peyton Manning to retirement and Osweiler to free agency – have added Mark Sanchez in a trade from the Eagles but are still in the market for someone to either compete with Sanchez or beat him out. The team has been linked to 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in reports, and the draft – where the Broncos pick 31^st – is another option.