Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, who will have his fifth year exercised by the team for 2016, said his focus remains on the upcoming season.*

Monday's announcement that the Washington Redskins will pick up quarterback Robert Griffin III’s fifth-year option was looked upon as a vote of confidence by an organization that sees a player with tremendous upside.

And while Griffin III is certainly elated with the team's decision, the fourth-year signal caller says he's keeping all of his attention on the immediate task at hand.

"I haven't been thinking about the 2016 season," Griffin III told Redskins.com on Tuesday. "I've been focused on helping this team get better in our offseason program for the 2015 season."

Griffin III on Tuesday was at the team's Loudoun County, Va., facility for the sixth day of voluntary offseason workouts, in which the players are limited to strength and conditioning drills, physical rehabilitation and team meetings.

He was named the team’s starting quarterback in February by head coach Jay Gruden, and his teammates say this week's news about his fifth-year option only solidifies the belief that Griffin III is the Redskins' man for the job under center moving forward.

"The first step is saying that, 'Hey, this is the quarterback.' Now the team can build on everything else," Redskins fullback Darrel Young said. "It's just about winning. They designated him the starter in February, so he's our leader, and it's just good to know that they support it, too, as opposed to just saying it. It's good for all of us mindset-wise."

Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan on Monday told reporters that the team will exercise Griffin III's fifth-year option, officially keeping him with the team through the 2016 season.

In doing so, McCloughan later told Redskins.com TV's Larry Michael, the team will return a young, talented football player who's passionate about winning and improving both individually and as a team.

"He's had a full offseason of being healthy, and also a full season with the new offensive system," McCloughan said. "We see tremendous upside physically with him, and he's proven he can do it. That's what we're looking forward to. It's a positive thing for the organization."

McCloughan, who was hired Jan. 8, said Griffin III's tape shows "many consistencies, but it also shows you upside."

In 2012, Griffin III set multiple league rookie records and was named the AP's Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Redskins that year also claimed their first NFC East title since 1999.

"He shows you he can do it," McCloughan said of Griffin III's film. "Anybody who can come in as a rookie and be rookie of the year at that position, that's very difficult to do in the NFL. It hasn't been done very often. Then once you're around him, you can see the work ethic, you see the importance, and you see the passion of wanting to win. It rubs off."

McCloughan said the Redskins have three quarterbacks on their roster with upside – Griffin III, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy – who are "relatively still young … experience-wise."

And now, officially on board for at least the next two seasons, Griffin III can continue focusing on improving one day at a time.

"It's not about talking about it; It's about being about it," he said in a previous interview. "That's what my goal is this entire offseason. You got to talk small, play big, take care of the little things for the big things and everything will fall into place."

RELATED LINKS:-- Scot McCloughan On Robert Griffin III: ‘He’s Got Good Tape’
-- Joe Theismann To Robert Griffin III: ‘Focus On What You Do’

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