Daron Payne takes shot at RGIII after criticism of Commanders DL
Former Alabama star and current Washington Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne isn’t having any part of Robert Griffin III after one his recent tweets. On Monday, the former NFL quarterback-turned-analyst criticized the Washington defensive front. By Wednesday, Payne had responded.
Here’s Griffin’s initial tweet that started the whole thing:
“The @Commanders D-Line showing up is more important than which Carson Wentz shows up. 4 1ST ROUND PICKS on the defensive front has to equal DOMINANCE. Stop fighting on the sidelines and start FIGHTING IN THE TRENCHES. Stop the run. Own the line of scrimmage and create havoc.”
Payne wasn’t about to take the criticism lying down either.
Was that the end of it? Of course not. Another former Alabama defensive lineman, Raekwon Davis — who now plays for the Miami Dolphins — chimed in with several laughing emojis. That prompted yet another response from Payne, which simply said “Boy a turf eater talking like a analyst.”
The Commanders have spent a lot of capital on its defensive line in recent drafts.
In fact, there was a four-year stretch where the franchise spent at least one first-round pick on the position. It started with Payne’s teammate at Alabama, Jonathan Allen, back in 2017. Then Payne in 2018, Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat in 2019 and Chase Young out of Ohio State in 2020.
Washington also went back to the Tuscaloosa well once again in April when they drafted Phidarian Mathis in the second round (No. 47 overall). Some have speculated that could be insurance for Payne, who is entering a contract year, but either way, the Commanders should be loaded up front.
RGIII obviously believes that unit has failed to live up to the expectations that come with four Day 1 draft picks. Payne, as you know by now, took exception to that public criticism. What do you think?
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