Baltimore Ravens Sign Robert Griffin III, Former Redskins QB

BALTIMORE, MD — The Baltimore Ravens said via Twitter Wednesday that the NFL team has signed quarterback Robert Griffin III to a one-year contract. Griffin played for the Washington Redskins from 2012-2015, although the relationship soured when he was injured and replaced as a starter by Kirk Cousins.

Joe Flacco has led the Ravens offense for several years, with his shining moment in 2013 when he was named the Super Bowl MVP after leading the Ravens to a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Analysts said the team needed a third backup QB with Josh Woodrum the only other quarterback on the roster before the team signed Griffin.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he's excited to have Griffin join the team, saying at a Wednesday press conference that RG3 is in very good shape and looked good throwing when he met with Baltimore leaders. The team needed a veteran No. 2 quarterback, Harbaugh said, and landing Griffin was "a steal."

"I felt like he really wanted to be here, really wanted to be a Raven. It makes us a better football team...this move makes us better," Harbaugh said.

The Ravens didn't make it to the playoffs last year, so a shakeup was imminent. General Manager Ozzie Newsome will step down after the 2018 season. And owner Steve Bisciotti said this winter that he considered firing Harbaugh at the end of the last season.

"It was certainly a consideration, but not one that I was inclined to make this year," Bisciotti told reporters, NFL.com reports.

RG3, as he's been nicknamed, played college football at Baylor, where he won the 2011 Heisman Trophy. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins second overall in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. His rookie year was a success as he set records for the highest passer rating and highest touchdown to interception ratio by a rookie quarterback, and led Washington to the top of its division and their first playoff appearance in five seasons. Griffin won the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

But the following seasons were less successful and Griffin suffered a concussion during the 2015 preseason, when he was replaced by Kirk Cousins for the rest of the season. Griffin was released by the team and signed with the Cleveland Browns, where he played for only a season and was then released. His last NFL game was on January 1, 2017 against the Steelers, when the Browns lost and Griffin threw for less than 250 passing yards, CBS Sports says. He sat out last season as a free agent.

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When the Kansas City Chiefs sent quarterback Alex Smith to Washington, marking the end of Cousins' time with the Redskins, Griffin weighed in on the change. He tweeted : "Some how...Some way...they will blame this on me. No doubt."

PHOTO: Former head coach Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Robert Griffin III #10 before a game between the Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on December 7, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)