Portis Says He and Zorn Are 'Together'
TAMPA, Fla.--Washington Redskins tailback Clinton Portis said today he's in sync with Coach Jim Zorn and was happy to see Zorn retained for a second season.
But Portis said he hadn't spoken to Zorn since the season ended about his future role in the Redskins' offense, and he was noncommittal on the issue of whether he'll be on hand for the team's offseason workouts at Redskins Park.
"Of course we're together," Portis said of Zorn. "But after the season, I left. I haven't had a conversation with anybody. Football is over with, and I left last year behind. We can't go back and change. There's no need to harp over it and have conversations over where we went wrong or how it happened. Myself, I'm just content, getting myself ready, well-rested and being prepared for another year."
Portis and Zorn clashed during Zorn's rookie season as an NFL head coach when Portis, frustrated about a lack of use in a game, criticized Zorn during a radio interview.
During an appearance here today promoting the Pro Bowl, Portis spoke of sending text messages back and forth with Arizona Cardinals tailback Edgerrin James during the season, with each frustrated at certain times about a lack of carries.
"You know, that's up to them, man," Portis said of how the Redskins will utilize him in Zorn's second season. "My talking doesn't do any good. It's their decision to make. However they call on me or whenever they call on me, that's when I'll get the ball."
Portis said he was pleased to see the Redskins keep Zorn so the team wouldn't have to endure another coaching switch.
"You get tired of all that change, you know," Portis said after the NFL's promotional event. "I think having Coach Zorn around, I think he's going to have the opportunity to learn. You don't have to go through the massive change of learning a new playbook, coming in early, preparing to do this, preparing to do that, gotta learn this. I think you give the players in the system the opportunity to learn the system and hopefully execute it better."
The running back indicated he thinks the Redskins can be a Super Bowl contender next season even without making major offseason changes.
"I think that same team got us to a 6-2 point last season," he said. "So if they can get you to 6-2, and we didn't play any slouches... obviously the team we had was good enough to get to there. I think the thing that happened is, we just didn't find a way to finish. So if we can find a way to finish or we can find a way to carry over throughout the season, I think we'll be all right."
He declined to say whether he thinks the Redskins should spend in free agency to bring in significant additions to the roster.
"Every year I've been there, we've went through a revamping situation," Portis said. "We revamp. We had new coordinators, new coaches, new this, new that. That's a decision they've got to make, man. For myself, the only thing I can worry about is being able stay on top of my game, being able to come back and being better next year than I was this year, and whatever I can do to help the team. Faces are always going to change in the NFL. So you've got to get used to them, get used to having a new face and hope they fill in and help you."
Asked about being at Redskins Park for offseason workouts and practices, Portis said he would "just play it by ear" and "take my time and make my decision that I think is best for me to help" prepare for next season.
Former Redskins running back John Riggins said at another Super Bowl-related promotional event later today that he thinks Portis's close relationship with the team's management has made for a difficult situation.
"He's already a headache," Riggins said at a media briefing by Sirius satellite radio. "You mean is he going to get worse? I don't know. I said that at the end of the season and I believe that unless he changes the way he views himself and views his contributions to the team, then I think that that could be problematic for the Redskins. It's a bad situation, created probably by the people who run the team, that he's been allowed to take the course that he has.
"I don't think there's any turning back now because obviously to a certain extent Clinton Portis has the team over a barrel from my understanding of the amount of money that he's owed, guaranteed money that becomes really cost-prohibitive to get rid of him over a [salary] cap issue. There's not that many teams that would be interested in Clinton Portis, I don't think, and so they have a bad situation on their hands. [That's] my personal take on it."
Riggins said he believes the Redskins do need a significant offseason retooling.
"I think that, number one, the offense is extremely suspect," the Hall of Famer said. "You saw when they played against the better defenses--not only when they played against the better defenses, it didn't make any difference who they played--they couldn't put any points on the board. They were able to run the ball earlier in the year. I thought the line did a tremendous job of blocking earlier in the year. Portis did a decent job of finding the holes. And then all of a sudden, that went away.
"They could never really throw the ball effectively. I don't think they really have any what you'd call big-play people. Maybe Santana Moss. But like I say, he's a number two [receiver] and he's your number one. If you're talking about a championship team, he's a number two. So they've got problems there. And I think some of the guys are going backwards a little bit. The offensive line obviously needs some help. So they've got a lot of work to do there. They don't really have anybody who can rush the passer consistently over on defense. They're not in the catbird's seat in the NFC East."
By
Mark Maske
|
January 28, 2009; 5:14 PM ET
| Category:
Redskins
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Posted by: scg1055 | January 30, 2009 3:09 PM
When the team is winning, Portis has his mouth shut, because he is happiest when the Skins are winning. I feel that is his biggest desire is to win. However, when they lose, he opens his yapper and starts making a fool of himself.
The key for Portis is the line play. always has been. even in Denver and it's that way for any running back. if he is getting poor blocking, his play will suffer. and when his production dips, Portis gets moody and says dumb things. he actually says dumb things alot like when he said the Redskins were more talented than the Patriots, who went on to beat the ________ out of us. Bottom line: Block for Portis=happy productive RB. UPGRADE THE O-LINE!! SPEND SOME MONEY!!
As far as Moss goes, people need to wise up. He is way to easy to take out of a game the way things are. He is a solid wideout IF YOU CAN TAKE ATTENTION AWAY FROM HIM!! Better production is paramount for the offense to succeed and the team simply does not have it. some star power would be welcome oppositte Moss Devin Thomas may be good one day, but a solid 3rd WR is all I see him progressing to at this point.
Cooley would benefit from a stud on the other side of Moss as well. esp. in the Red area...but we have known this for 2 yrs now. Cooley is great between the 20's but after that...
D-Line is weak, have needed a pass rusher since the 90's and upgrades at tackle. period.
A better Free saftey so Landry can play near the box more often.
without these upgrades, we will be trampled on in the beast...
Posted by: fullonfully | January 30, 2009 8:44 AM
Wow. You should consider getting a job in Snyder's growing media empire! You have equal portions of naivete and blind acceptance. He loves that in fans. We only get to read about Portis what El Snyder allows, and approves, in the local media. If Snyder doesn't like whats being written, the reporter loses access. Ask Sally Jenkins. It's always "big heart and roses" when it comes to the reporting on Portis. Look around the league at the running back talent and tell me, WITHOUT the blinders on, that Portis belongs in the top ten. The "I'm hurt every week, but can manage to play" crap got old around week 9 don'cha think? He's a manufactured superstar, an able player I'll grant you, but NOT a gamechanger. His hype is the result of the Skins having no one else who fits the bill as 'star' at the moment. Other than delighting fantasy football owners, he's never carried the team on his back like some of the greats, like Riggo could at times... Heck, he couldn't carry Larry Brown's jockstrap in my opinion. He tends to be very meek in the important games. He may be on the team, but I don't drink kool-aid, and am not a Portis fan...
Posted by: crowemagnon | January 29, 2009 11:28 PM
Cancer? eh, I have a hard time tagging that term to him. When I think cancers to a team, I think of your T.O.s, Pac Mans, and people who cause trouble with the teamates and complain about there $$ contracts. CP complains about not playing as much as he wants to, not a bad quality just needs to be handled differently. Aside from the Zorn issue, again which was short lived and I believe was blown out of proportion by the media, he hasnt caused many other problems and tends to get along with everyone. Plays good enough to loose? I dont agree with that, he ranks as a top running back.
I think he is a little self centered, but not a cancer, thats a little far fetched. However 2009 season could show a different person.
Posted by: erleach | January 29, 2009 7:05 PM
Riggins is right. Portis is a minor cancer. He plays good enough for the team to lose, crys about carries and chums it up with Danny, which creates a toxic situation for ANY coach. It's a shame you can't fire Snyder. Marketing genius yes, upper echelon owner NO.
Posted by: crowemagnon | January 29, 2009 6:31 PM
I think Both Riggo and Portis should go! Oh wait, Riggo is gone. Then, Portis needs to go. He is a big mouth; disrespectful, overpaid, pain in the rear! They should sign JC and trade for line and receivers...Moss is not a number one, but a very good number 2.
The real problem is Vinny and Dan, but that is another topic that shoud be discussed!
Posted by: wspasp | January 29, 2009 6:12 PM
Portis is on pace to put up Hall of Fame numbers, so I have no problems with Portis. We won games because of Portis early in the season when the O-line was fresh. Once the O-line started to show it's age and wear, that's when Portis declined. To me, that means the problem is the O-line.
Second, I'm tired of people saying Moss is not a #1 receiver. Moss is a #1 receiver without a #2 receiver, which makes it VERY difficult to make big plays. Who is the Skins #2, Randle El?(no threat) Devin Thomas?(so far, no threat) How about James Thrash?(really?)
Give Moss a serious 2nd WR and you will see his numbers skyrocket.
Posted by: RobInVaBeach | January 29, 2009 2:09 PM
Riggins says it like he see's it. So what, even if Riggins is slightly jealous (which I dont think he is), it doesnt excuse the fact that a MAJOR problem with the organization Portis is buddy-buddy with Danny and Vinny. They gave him this huge contract extention (well deserved in my opinion) but Danny and Vinny love to go down on the field and chum it up with the superstars- Portis being the biggest of them.
This COMPLETELY underminds the structure of the team and organization. How can Zorn coach Portis and the team when Clinton is in the ear of Synder complaining about playing time and "this and that" and his likes and dislikes of whats going on? The buddy-buddy relationship of Snyder and his personnel is a plague on the team. Aside from financial matters, Portis should not be in communication with Snyder.
Portis runs his mouth a little too much, and for what? He didnt get a few carries? Sorry, that cant be allowed to happen. The only reason he does this is because he knows he is the apple of Snyder's eye and that he can get away with it. End of story...
Posted by: mharman1 | January 29, 2009 1:44 PM
Riggo is just hatin' on CP. His records are in jeopardy. He's just an aging ex-player hoping to still keep some records under his name and stressing on the fact that CP will break his records. Riggo needs to be a gracious ex-player and just accept the fact that records are meant to be broken. Being a hall of famer is no easy feat, so he should be satisfied with that accomplishment. Stop hatin' Riggo!
Posted by: Jotas | January 29, 2009 12:28 PM
Riggins is wrong on multiple issues. First, there are a lot of teams out there that would take Clinton Portis. Yes, his outburst with Zorn was a problem, however, he doesn't get in trouble off the field and he works his tail off when he plays. He blocks better than most RB's and he plays hurt more than most people. Secondly, Moss is a #1 WR. If he was put on half the other teams in the league, he'd be there number one (maybe more than half).
Rigins was right about the OL though. We need to get some younger, fresh legs up there. Our line tired as the season progressed, and we aren't getting any younger up there.
Posted by: soccerbj1171 | January 29, 2009 11:45 AM
Riggins is right on. Portis is a cancer on this team. Watch his output vs. his pay over the next two years. When the output and number of games played declines, Danny will hire his close buddy, Portis to coach the Skins! Jim Zorn has no chance to make it with the Skins due to Danny and Portis no matter how well he coaches or how good a record he has. It's a no-win situation and all the other decent coaches know it and they will never come here due to this owner and his ego and lack of football acumen.
Posted by: j777im | January 29, 2009 9:01 AM
Riggins act is getting real old. Riggins was a distraction when he was playing hung over in Dallas among other things.
May have found what is really bothering Riggo.
John Riggins all time leading Redskins rusher 7,47 yds in 9 season for Washington
Portis 6,103 in just 5 yrs in burgandy and gold.
No wonder Riggins wants Portis gone. 1369yds the clcok is ticking on Riggo
and for their career
Riggins 11,352yds/14season 3.9/att
Portis 9,202/7seasons 4.5/att
I love Riggo got your picture hanging on my wall right above me now. But you couldnt hold Clinton's jock.
Posted by: 3card | January 28, 2009 11:58 PM
Portis definetitly needs to come back for offseason workouts. I believe every player on the team needs to look at their performance from the season and possibly do the same. last year was the 1st time CP took the offseason seriously and as a result was his best year in the NFL. I say they all should work out not just for the training aspect, but for team bonding. working together year round.
Now I wouldnt go so far as Portis and Zorn clashed, but more that Portis clashed with Zorn. Zorn didnt do anything to ignite the situation further, in fact Zorn seemed to difuse the situation pretty quick.
With Riggo, I agree with him to a certain extent. CPs mentality does need some adjustments in some places, but what he does show is that he is a competitor. He is focused. The only thing I see happening is he does carry the "me" thing. How he hasent talked to anyone from the team since the end of the season? why not? his comment above "Myself, I'm just content, getting myself ready, well-rested and being prepared for another year." Thats my concern. look at LT with San Diego right now. I dont see Portis having the same dedication to the team.
Posted by: erleach | January 28, 2009 7:00 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Portis' contention that the Redskins can be a Super Bowl contender next year is laughable. The ownership, coaches and players say the same thing every year, and every year they produce garbage. At least these overpaid underachievers won't be able to use the excuse of "learning a new system" next year. This team has talent, but the players are too nonchalant to contend. As far as Riggins vs Portis; Riggins came up big in important games, Portis never has.