ASHBURN, Va. - Jay Gruden said the the jury is still out on the Washington Redskins quarterback position. Robert Griffin III doesnt think that way at all.The coach also said his quarterbacks need to be thick-skinned and not let outside criticism get to them. Griffin, on Tuesday, turned two football questions into answers that referenced outside criticism.Griffins physical and mental performance will be hyper-analyzed over the final seven weeks of the season. He needs to stay healthy, and he needs to show the first-year coach that he can handle all of the other rigours of playing quarterback in the NFL.On Monday, Gruden said the jury is out at quarterback because hes started three players at the position. Griffin only just returned on Sunday after missing six games with a dislocated left ankle, a layoff that disrupted his efforts to learn to be more of a pocket-passer.Gruden said he feels good about Griffins progress to date, but there are things the team will have to find out about the third-year QB before the end of the season — after which the Redskins will have to decide whether to pick up an option year on Griffins contract.On Tuesday, however, before the players broke for a five-day bye-week vacation, Griffin said he doesnt view the rest of the season as a chance to prove hes definitively the franchise quarterback.When it comes to being the franchise guy, that is what it is. I believe that I am, Griffin said. I believe that this organization knows that I am, and I know those guys in the locker room believe that I am. Theres no doubt there, so I dont ever step onto the field trying to make a claim saying Im the guy. No, its not like that. This is my team and Im going to lead it.Asked about Grudens jury is still out remark, Griffin said he understands it because he hasnt had much of a chance to play for the coach because of the ankle injury.Availability is the key, Griffin said, so my job is to continue to go out there, get better each week, help this team win football games, and the rest will take care of itself.Griffin had a mixed performance in Sundays 29-26 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He used his tremendous athleticism to extend plays, revived his ability as a running threat in the zone-read and led a pair of second-half scoring drives in a tight game.But he also took five sacks — more than Kirk Cousins or Colt McCoy took in any of their starts — and made two bad throws at inopportune times, one a momentum-turning interception and the other a short-armed toss that ended the Redskins final legitimate scoring threat.Gruden said Griffin still needs to get a better feel for the pocket to avoid the sacks, but Griffin said theres also some good that can happen when he holds onto the ball a little longer.I feel like I add an element to the game by being able to extend plays and make plays ... Sacks are a part of the game. You dont want to take many of them, and I always will work on that, Griffin said, but Im not going to limit myself out there on the field because I think thats a detriment to our offence if I take that part of my game out.Griffin has always displayed a sensitively to criticism of his play, something Gruden has mentioned more than once and cited again Monday. The outside pundits were clearly on Griffins mind Tuesday when he was asked if it was good to get in a game before the bye week.Instead of answering the question, Griffin sought to quash the notion that he shouldve waited until after the bye to return.For us to push that off to after the bye just because of outside opinion, I think is a disservice to this team, Griffin said, because we always want to have the best opportunity to win each week.Later, asked about his decision to slide on a third-and-20 run in the fourth quarter instead of fighting for the extra yards, Griffin said he wasnt contemplating public reaction as he made his way upfield.I wasnt thinking about what anybody else was going to say, he said. I just knew I was going to get molly-whopped if I tried to go for that first down.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP Paul George Shoes Free Shipping .5 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, a deal that covers his final two arbitration seasons. Cheap Paul George Shoes . The Italian side scored twice in a four-minute span in the second half to defeat former stars from S. https://www.cheappaulgeorgeshoes.com/.C. - Brent Sutter scored 1:32 into extra time as the Charlotte Checkers came from behind to defeat the visiting Abbotsford Heat 5-4 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. Paul George Shoes Outlet . -- Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen took the second-round lead Saturday in the Champions Tours Legends of Golf, teaming for a 6-under 48 in windy conditions on the par-3 Top of the Rock course. Paul George Shoes Deals .com) - Mike Miller scored a season-high 21 points in a rare start and the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from their worst loss of the season with a 95-91 win over the Brooklyn Nets.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton is quickly working his way back from ankle surgery. Carolinas Pro Bowl quarterback did some light throwing during Wednesdays OTA and coach Ron Rivera said afterward he wouldnt rule out Newton participating in the teams mandatory minicamp June 17-19. "I wouldnt put it past him," Rivera said. If Newton can return early that would give him a chance to begin developing some chemistry with a completely revamped receiving corps. Carolina parted ways with its top four receivers from last season, including Steve Smith. Newton went through warm-ups with his teammates and then mostly played the role of cheerleader during the two-hour practice session, except for a short period where he threw 10- to 20-yard passes to receivers from a stationary position. However, Newton stayed after practice to throw a few dozen additional passes to some of the teams younger wide receivers, including first-round draft pick Kelvin Benjamin. The QB had surgery to relieve chronic pain in his left ankle and had been expected to miss four months -- which would have kept him out until just before the start of training camp. But he appears ahead of schedule. "Hes been doing it for the last few days -- throwing the ball on the side," Rivera said. "Hes been looking good, he really has. And Im excited about it. He says that foot is getting stronger and stronger every day so were excited about whats happening for him." Newton did not address the media Wednesday. He has been working on building a relationship with Benjamin, who helped Florida State win a national championship last season and is a player the team hopes will develop into the No. 1 receiver to replace Smith, who was released during the off-season. "Its neat to see," Rivera said. "They have kind of hit it off." Defensive end Greg Hardy, who was arrested earlier this month for assaulting a female and communicating threats, did participate in practice.dddddddddddd However, he declined interview requests as he left the practice field saying he had to get inside the stadium to lift weights. Hardy is scheduled to appear in court June 27 to answer the misdemeanour charges. Hardys teammates said they dont believe his arrest will be a distraction. "You just come to work. Thats what we do -- let the work speak for itself," said defensive end Charles Johnson. "I dont get into peoples personal lives. As long as (guys) come to work ready to work." Hardy has been a major producer for the Panthers the last two seasons. After registering 11 sacks in 2012, Hardy tied a franchise record with 15 sacks last season and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. "Gregs looked really good," Rivera said. "Its tough because were not in pads, so when he comes off the ball the tackles cant really strike him the way you normally would in pads. So I think advantage goes to him right now. Hes very quick, very athletic and doing some very good things." The NFC South champion Panthers made Hardy their franchise player earlier this year, giving him more than $13 million for the 2014 season. But that decision forced the salary cap strapped Panthers to part ways with other players following a 12-4 season.. Gone are Smith and fellow receivers Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn Jr., offensive tackle Jordan Gross and defensive backs Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Mitchell. Johnson said he expects a lot of people to count the Panthers out because of the players theyve lost from last years team. He recommends they dont. "Just because we have new people doesnt mean we arent going to do good," Johnson said. "We are going to be all right." ' ' '