Bell: Robert Griffin III's legend growing

You could hear the anticipation at FedEx Field way before you saw it.

"RGIII! RGIII!" they chanted.

It was two hours before kickoff. And these extreme fans weren't even in the building yet. They were in a parking lot outside the stadium, getting their tailgate groove on.

Never mind that Monday Night Football hasn't exactly been a showcase in recent years for the Washington Redskins, who had lost 10 consecutive Monday night home games. The people couldn't contain themselves, and if you know the history of this particular fan base it can become over-the-top in a heartbeat.

When it was over, after electric Robert Griffin III served up another snapshot of his growing legend by helping the Redskins squeak past the defending champion New York Giants and boost hopes for a late dash to the playoffs, the fans couldn't stop.

"I'm looking down after the game, and he's doing a sideline interview," said former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who watched the game from team owner Dan Snyder's box. "And there must've been 2,000 people who stayed, cheering, 'RGIII! RGIII!'"

Gibbs had not seen Griffin play before Monday. "I suppose I'll be back, for sure," the Hall of Famer said.

The Redskins (6-6) are relevant again, and it has been a long time coming. With a three-game winning streak, they are a game behind the NFC East-leading Giants. Sure, it was a team win. Yet every team needs a franchise quarterback, and the Redskins finally have one again. Griffin undoubtedly is worth the bundle of picks traded to the St. Louis Rams (first-round choices in 2013 and 2014, a second-round pick in 2012) in order to move up four slots to draft him No. 2 overall.

Griffin, with his world-class track speed and accurate arm, is the next great prospect. He can redefine the position — if he can survive the physical punishment in the offense Mike Shanahan has crafted to incorporate college-spread principles.

As demonstrated Monday, he can make even the best D-line in football hesitate in its pass rush, while the system helps receivers such as Pierre Garcon get wide open because of the uncertainty of a read-option attack. And Griffin will find him.

This is what a "new wave" quarterback looks like.

But here's what strikes me the most about Griffin: He's an old school quarterback. His uniform gets dirty. He works hard at his craft. He's disciplined. He respects everybody.

Rick "Doc" Walker, an ex-tight end from the Super Bowl-winning "Hogs" era during the 1980s, raves on about how Griffin's grounded demeanor impacts the team.

"There have been some jerks in this league that people wouldn't give the extra effort for," Walker says. "He'll never be that guy. I mean, I've seen guys take pictures of themselves in the mirror. This game turns a lot of guys into egomaniacs. But with him, they're chanting his name and he's talking about (running back) Alfred Morris as rookie of the year."

Brian Mitchell, a kick returner in the 1990s and a member of the last Redskins team to win a Super Bowl, loves Griffin's maturity.

"From Day One, he's never acted like a rookie," Mitchell says.

Gibbs mentions the touchdown-to-interception ratio (23-4, including six rushing TDs) as an outgrowth of the solid decision-making that often comes slowly for quarterbacks. Like Mitchell, he senses the impact of Griffin's military background; both parents are retired Army sergeants.

"He seems to be so solid," Gibbs said, "the type who can handle this."

Since the Redskins won Super Bowl XXVI after the 1991 season, the franchise has won three playoff games and never advanced past the second round.

But now there's hope. Old school hope from the new kid on the block.

And while he's at it, Griffin might want to bolt over to Capitol Hill and help with this "fiscal cliff" business. There might be no better person in Washington to bring Democrats and Republicans together than the great unifier of the Redskins.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., was moved to tweet Tuesday that Griffin offered bipartisan hope for all of the rabid Redskins fans on the Hill.

In D.C, that would truly represent old school impact.