The official "I have mixed feelings on Clinton Portis" thread

[SMOSS89]

The man clearly walked into this season not at 100%. That much is obvious. He also had a tendency not to practice during the week. In addition to his attitude problems, and decreased productivity, he will probably be cut from the Redskins, should it be an uncapped year.

But something tells me that CP, although an aging running back, still has some good value. I have a sick feeling in my stomach that if we let him go, a team like New England, which has an established system and good FO, will find a way to use him in a two back system, and he could be very effective. If thats the case, I'll be sick.

I think the only reason I will be okay with him leaving, is that for THIS organization, because of who the owner is and because he had a personal relationship to CP, he has to go. You can't be a real team when the owner has favorites like this. The reason why we are very good now is because we have a better TEAM, and we need team guys.

Should CP become successful somewhere else, Snyder has no one to blame but himself. He promoted the current locker room culture of "Clinton's the guy he can do whatever he wants" and it came back to bite him. It makes the head coaches job much tougher, when you can't even grill your star player without the boss looking over your shoulder. That, in addition to the fact that CP was paid like a king, pretty much defines his tenure here in Washington.

The guy is a warrior when he is on the field. No Redskin fan should ever question that. His biggest weakness was himself, the fact that he should have matured into the leader the team needed him to be. We needed him to be a guy who had a C on his jersey. That's just not his personality, I suppose. But he was not a good example to any of the young guys, because he was a very talented back who had poor work ethic. If he had improved that work ethic, he could have been one of the most productive backs in league history.

If CP has indeed played his last game as a Redskin, that's how I will remember him. A tough, talented player, who's work ethic and (at times) attitude did not allow him to fully reach his potential in the later stages of his career.


Discuss.

[Alvin_Walton40]

A tough, talented player, who's work ethic and (at times) attitude did not allow him to fully reach his potential in the later stages of his career.

sums it up for me.

[#98QBKiller]

I think he still has something left in the tank, but I don't know whether he should be the featured back or not.

Ladell Betts came in and immediately made the run game look better. It's a shame he got hurt so soon because IMO, it was important to see what he had in the tank too. I honestly think that the wear & tear on CP's body will hamper him ever returning to the dominant runner that he once was. I think he's heading the way of Brian Westbrook and Edgerrin James. All great players that unfortunately have had injuries/wear & tear cut their dominant days short.

[ST is my boy]

This New England Argument keeps coming up, where he is going to put up 1500 yards and 15 TD's. (I know you didnt say that directly).

I ask these people.......what in Portis makes you think hes capable of something like that? Let alone stay healthy for more than 5 games? I mean the guy is SLOWWWWW, and was missing reads all over the place this season (line didnt help), but its said when Quenton Ganther, Rock Cartwright, and Ladell Betts make you look bad. Lets not even discuss that Portis makes more money than all three combined, and some!

Its time for us to move on from the guy.......he had a good run with the Redskins, and I love him for giving his all......but its over.

[McD5]

Would you sign him right now?

Didn't think so.

Next.

[MattFancy]

I love everything he has done for us. Carrying us to the playoffs in 2005 and 2007, single season rushing record, his first carry as a Redskin, all his big blocks, etc. But, now that he is getting older, he clearly isn't the same guy. I hope we bring him back for next year. I think he'll have a huge chip on his shoulder and want to prove everyone wrong.

[yellow41]

I appreciate Portis for all he has done for the Redskins since being traded here. He has given it 100% on the field every game, and no matter what you think of his off-the-field persona, when it's gametime, he is someone younger RBs should study. He runs as hard as he can and blocks like no tailback I've ever seen.

But if I've learned anything from this season it's that the team's young talent needs the opportunity to get on the field and gain experience. It's clear they're playing better and I really think a lot of that has to do with getting the young guys used to each other. The running game hasn't taken a step back since CP stepped off the field.

It's hard to make tough decisions about veteran favorites, but the great franchises (Steelers, Eagles, Patriots come to mind first) have no problem letting these guys go when the time has come. Better to let them go one year too soon than one year too late.

I would have no problem if the front office decided CP has played his last down as a Redskin, but I would have absolutely no problem giving him the standing O he deserves if he steps on the field in an opposing uniform.

[Saqs]

You shouldnt be sick that a player who may need a change of scenery to extend his career does just that and it works out for him. It happens (look up Moss).

He's obviously done here IMO. He's seen and been through too much and it's stunted him somewhat. Let him go.

[addicted]

I want to keep Portis for one more year. I think he does have something left in the tank and when healthy can be explosive. This year was an anomoly. Give Portis a better line and one more shot

[SMOSS89]

Would you sign him right now?

Didn't think so.

Next.

There's old reliable, comin through on time

[McD5]

I want to keep Portis for one more year. I think he does have something left in the tank and when healthy can be explosive. This year was an anomoly. Give Portis a better line and one more shot

Giving Portis one more shot, means giving Ganther, or whoever our next RB is fewer shots.

It means fewer shots for D. Thomas and Davis too.

Portis is the king of attention whores.

Get that loser out of here already.

[McD5]

There's old reliable, comin through on time

Your comments about his impact on the locker room, on the younger players, and on morale are correct.

Ask yourself this:

If Portis comes back--a guy who was averaging 60 ypg before the concussion, and he could run for 1,500 yards next year....would it even matter in the W-L column?

No?

Kiss the baby Portis.

[capt1an chaos]

Portis has lost it? Didn't he have 1500 yards and finish 4th in the NFL in rushing last year? I will probably get burned at the stake for this too, but I think LL will be a good if not great player if he remains at SS and these trade Cooley rumors are just plain ignorant.

If we can hold on to Portis next year and focus on the O-line in the draft, I think he will have another 1200-1500 yard season. I say give him another year with a youngster or two waiting in the wings just in case i.e. Ganther and maybe a late, late rounder, UDFA or FA.

[addicted]

Giving Portis one more shot, means giving Ganther, or whoever our next RB is fewer shots.

It means fewer shots for D. Thomas and Davis too.

Portis is the king of attention whores.

Get that loser out of here already.

First of all he's not a loser, that's not surprising coming from Ladel Betts biggest fan. We better dump Betts before we dump Portis.

Portis hasn't been healthy since the middle of last year. Last season before he got hurt Portis had 1000 yards by mid season.

http://www.nfl.com/players/clintonpo...42&season=2008

Look at what he was averaging then, 5+ yards a carry. During that time we were winning most of our games. Then he got hurt, and with Portis went our teams record.

As for Ganther, frankly what is exciting about him? His highest production is 50 yards. So freaking what? As for who we have to replace Portis, I don't see a guy on the team that can carry the ball 250 times a year on the team now, who are you going to replace him with? Should we spend our first on a new RB?

And as for less shots to WR's, that's not at all the case. And if it were true then that means Portis is running all over fools and we don't need to pass the ball. What's the problem with that?

All I'm saying is Portis should get one more year, if and only if he is healthy. If he's not then he is ineffective and lets cut him. If he is healthy he's a probowl player and we should give him one more year. It's all about his health to me.

[Woofer]

No mixed feelings here...Let him go.