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Jay Gruden: No RGIII-Kirk Cousins controversy

Unnamed members of the New England Patriots organization are not alone in their sentiment that the Washington Redskinswould be better off with Kirk Cousins at quarterback.

Franchise icon Joe Theismann made waves on the Redskins' Broadcast Network early in the fourth quarter of Friday's game when he declared that Cousins has severely outplayed Robert Griffin III this preseason.

"Now, if there was a quarterback competition, it wouldn't be a competition," Theismann opined, via The Washington Post. "Kirk Cousinswould be the man I believe (coach Jay Gruden) would have to go to, because of the efficiency with which he has run (the offense)."

As is often the case with these fabricated debates, Theismann's opinion means nothing.

Gruden rejected the notion of a quarterback controversy Saturday, explaining, "I feel good about the starters we have."

Griffin's first-team offense has yet to score a touchdown this preseason, which is cause for legitimate concern that there will be major growing pains as he makes the transformation from gimmick quarterback to pocket passer.

Declaring that Cousins can run the offense better than Griffin in August of 2014, however, is a shortsighted approach to the situation.

RGIII has the "keys to the franchise" for a reason. He's a unique NFL talent, a rising tide capable of raising all boats at his spectacular best.

Cousins, on the other hand, was graded by Football Outsiders as the NFL's least effective quarterback last season.

The more interesting question isn't whether Cousins should be playing over Griffin. It's whether the Redskins will entertain the idea of trading their backup to diffuse a "controversy" manufactured by the media since RGIII and Cousins were selected in the same draft.

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