Robert Griffin III and Richard Sherman are locked in a heated war of words after the former NFL quarterback accused Stanford of paying players before the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era. Both of them are trading pointed shots at each other with neither showing any sign of backing down.
The controversy began on "The Dan Patrick Show," where Griffin was asked which programs allegedly paid athletes under the table. Griffin pointed to SEC schools before naming Stanford and Florida State.
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"I know for a fact that the SEC was paying the most under the table… There were two teams outside of the SEC that were paying a lot of guys under the table, and it was Stanford and Florida State…" Griffin said.
He added that some players were receiving "hundreds of thousands" and that schools were "spending millions already back then."
Sherman, a Stanford alumnus, immediately pushed back at the accusation . Griffin then directly challenged the former All-Pro cornerback.
"Don't do this Richard. You comment when it's pro you and Stanford. Evidence below." He also insisted, "I don't lie about any story I have shared." Griffin escalated the feud with his latest tweet, alleging Stanford provided benefits to a player before NIL was legal.
"Stanford gave a player $3k for a bike loan, free car, meals, and a vacation home before NIL was legal," RGIII wrote . "I don't know what's wrong with you, but you need to stop clout chasing and spreading outright lies. I didn't pick this fight, but I will finish it," Griffin added.
Whether for good or bad, there's no denying that NIL has changed college football. In June 2021, when the NCAA's NIL restrictions were struck down following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, it opened the door for athletes to earn money through endorsements, advertising campaigns and social media promotions.
The financial impact was immediate. The NIL market surpassed $900 million within a year and was projected to move beyond $1 billion. NIL has also rewritten recruiting. Nearly 75% of athletes at Power Five schools reportedly consider NIL opportunities when making their college decisions.
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Programs now have to sell not only football, but also their brand, resources, and ability to generate opportunities. The transformation has created new challenges, too. Individual deals can complicate team chemistry, while larger programs often possess stronger networks for landing lucrative opportunities.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
