Posted on August 19, 2016, by Travis Pulver
Being in the news is nothing new to Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III, but he probably never thought he would be making headlines because of this—he’s getting a divorce.
He and Rebecca Liddicoat met in 2009 through a mutual friend at Baylor. He proposed a year later (October 2010) in the Baylor Fieldhouse after leading the team to a 47-42 win over Kansas State, and were married on July 6, 2013. Their impending marriage made headlines when fans discovered their wedding registry and started buying the couple wedding presents.
Via Heavy.com
Their daughter, Reese Ann Griffin, was born in May 2015, and here they are a little over a year later getting divorced.
Rumors have surfaced over the last few years of possible infidelity on Griffin’s part, but each time they did someone (a friend or the supposed “other” woman) spoke up to refute the claims. So exactly what went wrong and why they are getting divorced, we will likely never know—and shouldn’t.
Even though we live in an age where nothing is sacred or left alone by prying eyes or curious minds, the dissolution of a family is something that should remain private.
Apparently, the two have been separated for months. According to Cleveland.com, Griffin has filed for divorce, and several media outlets have reported that he appears to have moved on already with a Florida State track star.
In light of this news, it is hard not to wonder if marital issues could have been a contributing factor to his downfall in Washington. After all, he went from being a dynamic, exciting player as a rookie to being someone that often looked dazed and confused—and that was before he got hit.
The knee injury from his rookie season and his quick return are the root causes of his downfall of course. For a person who has been outspoken about his faith and religious beliefs it had to be hard to come to the conclusion that the marriage had to end—and after only three years and so soon after the birth of their baby girl.
So, with that in mind, it is not hard to imagine a scenario where he was deeply troubled by whatever it is that was going on at home, while he was on the field. While he may have been able to put it aside while he played, it may have affected his preparation. It wouldn’t be as easy to focus and concentrate on the job at hand even though he knew monstrous defenders would be more than happy to pound on him.
Mary Kay Cabot, in her article for Cleveland.com, refers at one point to sources that said it has been a real difficult time or RG3, but that he has been working through it. For something to fall apart so fast, it must be an incredibly difficult thing for him to deal with (and her as well of course).
Cabot also mentions how Browns players have been complimentary of RG3’s focus and dedication to the job, and that he appears to be able to compartmentalize his private life and keep it from affecting his professional life.
But maybe he can do that now, in Cleveland, because he has decided it is time to move on from his marriage. According to TMZ, Rebecca was still trying to work on things and was blindsided by the divorce news. He has already scrubbed her presence from his Instagram account as well.
So—did his marital woes have anything to do with his downfall in Washington? It is something he’ll never admit to, and we will never know for sure, but if the guy that won the Heisman and the Offensive Rookie of the Year returns this season, there will likely be many who will wonder.
