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Kirk Cousins is Washington's starting QB 'for 2015, moving forward'

Even with the history of dysfunction surrounding the Daniel Snyder-era Washington Redskins, it's still confusing how we've gotten to this point with Robert Griffin III.

Griffin is out as the Redskins' starter. Kirk Cousins will start Week 1 and beyond, as Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN broke the news.

Gruden confirmed at his Monday press conference that Cousins will start, and it's not a short-term thing. Gruden said Cousins in the starter "for 2015, moving forward."

"It's Kirk's team," Gruden said.

(AP)
(AP)

Gruden said that Cousins opened the organization's eyes with his work through the offseason and training camp, and complimented Griffin too.

"We believe in Robert," Gruden said. "It's a good problem to have, to have three quarterbacks who are competing."

Gruden said Snyder had nothing to do with the decision and hasn't stumped for Griffin at all. Gruden made the announcement more about what Cousins has done in practices, and not about any of Griffin's failings.

Gruden answered the obvious follow-up question, if Griffin will be on the team this season. Gruden said that he planned on Griffin being on the roster.

"I have nothing against Robert, I like Robert as a quarterback, there's no doubt about it," Gruden said. "His future with the Washington Redskins is what it is. There have been no discussions of letting him go or any of that stuff."

It was clear it wasn't injury related, since Griffin had almost two weeks to be cleared from a concussion suffered in the Redskins' second preseason game. It was definitely not because Cousins has shown he's a good NFL quarterback during the regular season. Cousins has 18 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in his career, and a poor 77.5 rating. The Redskins are 2-7 in games he has started. Cousins has had a good preseason, but the number of quarterbacks who have looked good against vanilla defenses in preseason before disappearing when games count is too high to count.

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This move just doesn't make a ton of sense based on previous moves. This offseason, after Griffin finished with three pretty good games to end the 2014 season, the Redskins picked up the $16 million option on Griffin for 2016. They expressed confidence in him all offseason.

“We think Robert is a starting quarterback: We’ve seen him win; we’ve seen him win big games,” Redskins president Bruce Allen said this offseason, according to the Washington Post. “We know his talent. It really was a no-brainer. I think if you asked us six months before it would have been the same decision.”

The Redskins had enough confidence in Griffin to put him on their ticket for the Week 1 regular-season opener against Miami:

And what changed? Griffin threw 13 preseason passes. In the second game he was under constant pressure behind a leaky offensive line and got hurt. The Redskins didn't think it was that bad of an injury, since he was right back at practice, until the NFL's independent neurologist stepped in and ruled him out for the third preseason game. Even if Cousins played well in practice or preseason, the track record in the regular season is not good. 

After Griffin was ruled out last week, that was followed by another batch of leaked stories the Redskins aren't good at much, but they are unbelievably prolific in anonymously sourced stories that the Redskins want to move on from Griffin but (what a surprise) can't find a trade partner.

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So a solid finish and an offseason of praise and confidence for Griffin is flushed for Cousins, who has never shown he can be even an average NFL starter. Never change, Washington. You're not a very good team, but you certainly entertain us. 

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!