ASHBURN, Va. -- Mike Shanahan gave Robert Griffin III a rest, and may have turned up the pressure on himself, too. The Redskins coach announced Wednesday that he was benching the star quarterback for the rest of the season. Kirk Cousins will start, and Griffin will be the inactive No. 3 quarterback behind Rex Grossman. Shanahan said he is benching Griffin to keep the quarterback healthy for the off-season, pointing out the 24 sacks and other hits Griffin has taken over the last five games. He said he ran the idea by owner Dan Snyder and general manager Bruce Allen, and that both offered their support. "Youve got to take a look at the risk and reward," Shanahan said. "And with Robert I thought that his hits were piling up on him, giving him his toll, and I was afraid that we would set him back." Shanahan cited the need for Griffin to have a full off-season of development after missing this years workouts while rehabbing from knee surgery. But theres no certainty that Shanahan will be around to coach in the off-season: The Redskins have lost five straight and are 3-10, their third losing season in Shanahans four years in Washington. "I think anytime you have a year left on your contract and you have three wins, thats going to be out there," Shanahan said Griffin was clearly unhappy with Shanahans move. "I expressed my desire to play," Griffin said. "Of course I want to be out there and finish the season with my guys, see it through. He explained to me his reasoning, and at the end of the day Coachs decision is what we go with it." Cousins took the first-team snaps as the team worked out in the indoor practice bubble to prepare for Sundays game against the Atlanta Falcons. Players say Griffin ran the scout team. The benching is the latest twist in a Shanahan-Griffin relationship that has been bordering on contentious since a playoff loss to Seattle last season, when Griffin remained in the game even though he was clearly injured. Shanahan conceded for the first time Wednesday that continuing to play Griffin "cost us the game." Griffin had reconstructive knee surgery a few days later and missed vital months of developmental work before returning for Week 1 in September, but he hasnt been the same player that won the leagues Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. With defences taking away the read-option, he has struggled as a drop-back passer, ranking 26th in the NFL in passer rating with 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. However, while Griffin hasnt had the same explosiveness, both he and Shanahan have insisted that the quarterback is medically healthy. Until this week, Shanahan publicly quashed any suggestions about a possible switch, saying Griffin needs as much game experience as possible. Shanahan said Wednesday that he first brought up the idea of benching Griffin last week in a conversation with Snyder, having decided that risk of injury outweighed the reward of experience. Both Griffin and Cousins are second-year players. Cousins played in all or part of four games, including the playoff loss, last season because of various Griffin injuries. Grossman hasnt taken a regular season snap since 2011. In recent days, the open question has been whether Shanahan might resign -- and thus forfeit a years salary -- or wait to be fired at the end of the season. Theres also the possibility he and Snyder could negotiate a settlement, and that the benching of a healthy franchise player could in some way be Shanahans way of getting some leverage in those talks. "Somebody said, Hey, the reason why youre going with Kirk is youre trying to get fired and get a year left on your contract," Shanahan said. "If I want to try to get fired, Im not going to call up Dan Snyder and ask his opinion on a player (when) I dont have to. And if he says no, Im not going to go in that direction." But Shanahan again conceded he might not return for a fifth season. "I dont know until I sit down with Dan," Shanahan said. "Then well find out what I think. Ill give him my opinions, and hell give me his opinions. Maybe we just hit it off and everything and I get that 12-, 15-year contract." "Well, maybe three-year," he added with a smile. "Whatever it is. Thats where grown men talk at the end of the year and you find out, Hey, whats the best way to go." Larry Johnson Jersey . The Senators will put the busy off-season and training camp behind them when they open their regular season on the road. They kick things off Friday against the Buffalo Sabres and then head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Saturday. Marcus Allen Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the New York Rangers winger skated with extras and goalies today. http://www.officialkcchiefspro.com/. Power had a two-lap average of 218.896 mph in qualifying Friday at the high-banked, high-speed 1 1/2-mile track for his 34th career pole. Custom Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys .com) - Joe Pavelski scored twice to lead the San Jose Sharks in a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers to split a home-and-home set. Derrick Thomas Jersey . The outdoor event will be played on Dec. 31 between alumni of the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.INCREDIBLE!!! to that Grab by @OBJ_3 simply one of the greatest grabs in a game I have ever seen. WOW— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) November 24, 2014 That Beckham catch should be worth bonus fantasy points— J.A. Adande (@jadande) November 24, 2014 The internet, being the Photoshop paradise that its known to be, had a field day with Beckhams catch, with quite a few hilarious memes getting shared throughout the Twitterverse. These ones are hands down our favourites, though. I hate yall so much RT @korkedbats: Odell Beckham Jr.'s catch was out of this world: http://t.co/0b5RuiBeDD pic.twitter.com/tZrMp4dofR"— Ray D'Angelo Harris (@Im_JusTweetin) November 24, 2014 Another great photoshop. “@nick_pants: pic.twitter.com/KoYsE8oyVD”— BarDown (@BarDown) November 24, 2014 If you are still somehow failing to comprehend the insanity of Beckhams grab, take these next photos in which better illustrate both the insane acrobatics of the catch and the extreme dexterity of his finger tips. Zoomed in picture of Odell Beckham Jr.'s catch via @bencelestino pic.twitter.com/HEwjVtRo13— Eric Rosenthal (@ericsports) November 24, 2014 Practice makes perfect with Odell Beckhham Jr.dddddddddddd. pic.twitter.com/fcQVCz27sh— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) November 24, 2014 Catch of the Millenium. RT @ESPNNFL: Catch of the year!! Odell Beckham Jr you are ridiculous!! pic.twitter.com/FKlVM6ifL3— Chalky White (@LogicalHater) November 24, 2014 Finally, the catch has already been mythologized by the quick work of some very talented artists on Instagram. Take a look at some photoshopped edits of Beckhams catch that will surely be made into posters by morning time. Historical catch #OdellBeckhamJr #giants #cowboys #sundaynightfootball A photo posted by Rory Montreuil (@montie_7) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:58pm PST Odell Beckham rj edit of the amazing catch #nyg #odellbeckhamjr #catchoftheyear A photo posted by Sgd AGTG (@sports.graphic.designs) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:51pm PST So how what was Eli Mannings response to yet another receiver making a grab of the century to pull in one of his overthrown passes for a catch? Probably something like this. #odellbeckhamjr A photo posted by Michael Vazquez (@madmike7983) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:56pm PST Ladies and gentleman, we think its safe to say that well be seeing replays of this catch for a long, long time. 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