Seahawks corner Shaquill Griffin returns home for first Pro Bowl
Jan 24, 2020, 11:55 AM | Updated: Jan 27, 2020, 11:42 am
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The Seahawks coaching staff is running the NFC’s Pro Bowl team this week, and they brought three of their best players with them.
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Two of them are regulars at the Pro Bowl – quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner – but the third is emerging as a star on defense, cornerback Shaquill Griffin. Griffin earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2019 originally an alternate but was added to the team last week.
The game is in Orlando, Florida, which is where Griffin, who just finished his third NFL season, was a star player for the University of Central Florida, making it a homecoming of sorts.
“I just never would have thought that I’d be in a situation like this,” Griffin told 710 ESPN’s John Clayton. “I just remember coming from year two I just wanted to show my worth to the organization and kind of redeem myself. I’m glad I did and get recognized as an alternate, but to actually be in the game is an amazing feeling and to share it with my family is awesome.”
Griffin was harsh of his play in 2018, giving himself a D+ grade. He bounced back and was one of the top shutdown corners in the conference despite not recording an interception. Now, he gets to enjoy the Pro Bowl with his family, including his twin brother Shaquem, who also plays for the Seahawks.
“I feel like there’s always stories to be made and this is definitely one and get a chance to share it with my family, share it with my twin, we got a chance to come back home and I feel like it’s a celebration, really for this game because of the season that we did have,” Griffin said.
Now that he’s made his first Pro Bowl, Griffin will have even higher expectations for 2020 and beyond.
“(I’m) one of the best in the NFC, now I just want to be remembered as one of the best cornerbacks in the (entire) league and try to get a chance to be on one of those All Pro teams,” he said. “I’ve got to continue to set my bar higher each year and I feel like that’s a goal for me.”
Griffin talked about taking the step from his second to third seasons, changing his diet and more in his interview with Clayton.
Listen to Griffin at this link or in the player below at the 20 minute mark.
Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s John Clayton on Twitter.
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