National Football League

Redskins want RG3 to avoid hard hits

Published Sep. 26, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Robert Griffin III has taken so many hard hits that he's going to tone down the trickery.

The Washington Redskins rookie quarterback said Wednesday that he's going to start making it clear that he doesn't have the ball when he hands it off on an option play.

By selling the fake, Griffin has been vulnerable to jarring, legal hits from defenders. Coach Mike Shanahan says he doesn't want Griffin taking that many shots.

Griffin says, ''I guess I'll just be running with my arms open a lot more.''

He is getting hit plenty on other plays. He has 32 carries this season — eight more than any other quarterback. He's also been sacked nine times.

The Redskins play at Tampa Bay on Sunday.