Are Robert Griffin III And Mike Shanahan Fighting? RG3 Denies 'Friction' Over Injury Recovery Timetable, Preseason Playing Time

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III’s recovery from offseason knee surgery remains on schedule, but that hasn’t stopped the 23-year-old from becoming frustrated with coach Mike Shanahan’s strict timetable.

Griffin’s 2012 season came to the end when his injured knee gave out during the Redskins’ playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Now, as the 2013 NFL season gets under way, Shanahan isn’t taking any chances. While team doctors cleared Griffin to return to action about a month ago, Shanahan has forbidden him from appearing in an actual game until the start of the regular season.

Despite Shanahan’s cautious outlook, Griffin insists that he’s ready to play this preseason. “I can’t B.S. that answer. No, I don’t like it,” Griffin told the Washington Post on Monday, regarding Shanahan’s decision. The second-year quarterback added that while he understands “some part” of Shanahan’s lengthy timetable, he “doesn’t understand all of it.” Griffin’s comments have raised questions about the possibility of a rift between him and Shanahan.

“[Shanahan] gave me his word. We talked about it. I know the plan. I’m not telling the whole plan because he doesn’t want the whole plan known. I understand that as well,” Griffin said. “But I don’t understand the whole plan at all. I can’t lie about that. When you give your word to somebody, that’s all you have, so I’m just banking that they’re gonna stay true to their word and I’m staying true to mine.”

Griffin’s words didn’t seem to sway Shanahan. During a press conference on Monday, the Redskins coach repeated his claim that the quarterback won't play this preseason, the newspaper reports. Griffin is slated to return in time for the Redskins’ Sept. 9 season opener, barring further injury to his reconstructed knee.

Despite his harsh words, Griffin apparently isn’t willing to allow his disagreement with Shanahan to escalate into a full-fledged fight. He took to Twitter on Monday to dispel any rumors regarding a possible rift: “There is no friction. There is an understanding between coach and player. That is all. Don’t have to like everything.”