Robert Griffin III Not to Make First Post-Surgery Public Appearance in West Virginia, After All

The Redskins QB, still recovering from his knee injury, has been replaced by Cam Newton. By Carol Ross Joynt

Comments () | Published January 16, 2013

Update January 25, 4:10 PM: Redskins spokesman Tony Wyllie says quarterback Robert Griffin III will not be making the trip to West Virginia that was earlier announced by the Big Atlantic Classic basketball tournament, which is happening this weekend in Beckley, West Virginia. When asked to confirm or deny the report, Wyllie e-mailed, “Deny. He is not going.” A check of the event’s website shows that the scheduled speaker has been changed to another Heisman trophy winner, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. According to published reports, Griffin is still sidelined by rehab from his recent knee surgery. Doctor's orders. Read the original story below.

There’s word out of West Virginia that may indicate Robert Griffin III’s first public appearance since knee surgery in Pensacola, Florida. 

Jim Justice, billionaire owner of the Greenbrier Resort, told the Register-Herald of Beckley that Griffin has confirmed he will speak as scheduled at the banquet for the annual Big Atlantic Classic basketball tournament. The Classic, of which Justice is tournament director, is held at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. That’s also where RG3 is scheduled to speak. While it is called a “dinner,” the start time on January 27 is 12:30 and Griffin is expected to speak at 1:30.

“This may be his first public appearance since the injury,” Justice told the newspaper after he reconfirmed Griffin’s appearance. He said he reached the quarterback through his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews. According to the newspaper, “Justice said Andrews, Griffin and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder were all together when Griffin agreed to confirm his appearance.”

The Big Atlantic Classic includes boys and girls from high school through middle school. “We’ve had some incredible speakers,” Justice told the Register-Herald. But, he said, RG3 “may be one of the biggest and the one the kids are excited about the most.”

We have reached out to the Redskins for comment but have not heard back.