Brian Mitchell goes off on Portis and Taylor

Texas Hog · Post by **Texas Hog** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 1:57 pm

Brian Mitchell went off on Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis on Comcast Sports Net's post game show.

Here is his central rant transcribed:

Players. . .we look and we see things. We'd try something and the coach would say 'don't do that'. And then the other guys do it and you let them go and then you say they're showing favoritism. That begins to separate a football team. . .I played the game and I know how it is.
I guarantee you there are players on this team that see those guys doing their own thing and nobody is saying anything about it. I talk to a lot of people and I know things and there are people who are sick and tired of it. But they can't say anything because people who tell them don't say anything.

The fact is. . .I started here as a Redskin. . .When I played here we busted our butts, we had a lot of tradition and we cared about what we did. . . I'm not going to sit here and let two people come in and think that they're going to change the whole framework of this organization.

Coach Gibbs, when I was late for a practice in 1991, he told me 'get you a new alarm clock, you have to do things right--you're a man now-or you're going to be going home.' He had that type of firmness with me and he made me a better player. He needs to the same thing with Clinton Portis and Sean Taylor. They're not bigger than the team.

The same thing you would preach over and over again to Art Monk and all of us, that no player on that team was bigger than any other. The same thing needs to be said to these guys, or somebody on the team like myself needs to get in their faces and tell them, you're not bigger than the team, you're never going to be bigger than the team.

Until you do that, you're going to have losing seasons and losing games with guys running this team who shouldn't be.

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:00 pm

that's why I wish he was still on the team as a player or as a coach... Brian was always good for getting into somebodys face and telling them to step it up, cheer up, or wise up....

Redskins2k5 · Post by **Redskins2k5** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:14 pm

weel good they both deserve it. They both blew us the game :evil:

portis26 · Post by **portis26** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:25 pm

Portis trade wasn't a good move. I'd take draft picks over portis, and look at my name. Bruised shoulder???? 50 million dollars???? C'mon. We should have traded for Corey Dillion, he fits this scheme much better. Our front office has done a terrible job, and I mean terrible. We keep running our coaches out of town, but the guys we should be mad at are VINNY and DANNY, they are the two who have ruined this franchise the last few years. They kill us year in and year out, and nobody around here will blame them. Its always the coaches fault. Well, listen up, OUR FRONT OFFICE IS THE WORST IN ALL OF SPORTS and its as simple as that. How else could you have such a high priced team every year and finish in last every year? An ape could do that... Seriously.

welch · Post by **welch** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:51 pm

Mitchell's is a pretty good rant in general, but I don't know what he specifically means.

Is it the red socks?

Or Taylor's missing assignments at times? Wilbur Marshall did that in his first couple of years at Washington, when he was obsessed with getting more sacks than Lawrence Taylor. Pettibon pressed and pressed him to play his position and depend on the other 10 guys...and Marshall had his most effective seasons in his last three or so with the Redskins.

Let's assume that Taylor is coachable, and let's not forget the strip at the goal-line yesterday, and all the other good plays he has made. He's a rookie.

So much for Taylor.

What exactly is Mitchell's complaint against Portis? Did he explain?

Yes, Mitchell's general spirit is right: that's how Gibbs coached three SB winners. But what are the exact charges against Portis?

Texas Hog · Post by **Texas Hog** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 3:01 pm

I'm not sure...I assume it's a "me" vs. "team" attitude, that wouldn't suprise me coming out of Miami.

Jeremy81 · Post by **Jeremy81** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 3:02 pm

welch wrote:Mitchell's is a pretty good rant in general, but I don't know what he specifically means.

Is it the red socks?

Or Taylor's missing assignments at times? Wilbur Marshall did that in his first couple of years at Washington, when he was obsessed with getting more sacks than Lawrence Taylor. Pettibon pressed and pressed him to play his position and depend on the other 10 guys...and Marshall had his most effective seasons in his last three or so with the Redskins.

Let's assume that Taylor is coachable, and let's not forget the strip at the goal-line yesterday, and all the other good plays he has made. He's a rookie.

So much for Taylor.

What exactly is Mitchell's complaint against Portis? Did he explain?

Yes, Mitchell's general spirit is right: that's how Gibbs coached three SB winners. But what are the exact charges against Portis?

I think he was talking about the individual things they did to their appearance...like sports tape on the face masks and different socks to stand out or be different. i'm sure he's questioning portis's heart again too after he sat out cause of a bruised shoulder.

ejay183 · Post by **ejay183** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 3:04 pm

Well Taylor is coachable and good thing we got him. Just give him about two years and he will be an elite Safety.

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 3:12 pm

i didn't see it, but i heard BM was refering to the tape on the facemask, and the socks.

lavar had tape on his face mask, why didn't mitchell call him out?

ANT7088 · Post by **ANT7088** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 3:57 pm

Well being that they're 23 & 21 years old, we'll have to deal with the immature stuff, but they will grow up! If I was their age getting compared to Ronnie Lott or Barry Sanders I'd be a little cocky too! They will grow up!

If we got Corey Dillon and he didn't do good then everyone would be saying "I told you so", "He has a bad attitude", "He's not a team player". When Portis puts up 1500 yards next year and alot more TDs, don't forget some of the things some of you are saying.

Keep in mind in this very horrible year Portis is having, he's like 128 yards away from breaking the Redskins all-time rushing record! Can you imagine if he had a good year or if he was in this system for more then 1 season???

Pokes4Life · Post by **Pokes4Life** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 4:05 pm

Hey dudes! Yeah, what's up with all the pretty tape job on Taylor's face mask? And what's up with all this talk from Clinton and Sean about how you have to look sweet to play better? Is image that important in Washington?

Anyway, just another season sweep for the Boys. That game reminded me of the 79' Clint Longley episode. Although this time it was an old journeyman QB and an undrafted rookie free agent catching the 32 yard winning TD with 37 seconds remaining. Classic I tell ya.

And hey, isn't Brian Mitchell half Iggle, half Giant anyway?

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 4:51 pm

ANT7088 wrote:Well being that they're 23 & 21 years old,

Good post Ant.

These guys are acquiring "owneship" (and responsibility) of the offense and defense, respectively. They are "marking" their territory. Nothing wrong with that. We want them to take responsibility for successes and failures.

I like Brian as much as anybody in this board. But one thing is to talk and another to coach. I do not feel that -any- Redskin player is disrespecting his teamates or coaches in any way.

Besides, Are the team or the coaches paying the fines? Not at all. So?

SkinsHead56 · Post by **SkinsHead56** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 5:45 pm

I wish I had an archive of all the bandwagon posts on this site. In Sept. every post was on how great it is to have Portis, lets draft Taylor, we'll be in the playoffs etc. Now every other post is is Portis a good fit, Taylor makes too many mistakes, Gibbs has lost it etc. I've had enough of this garbage from the San Diego fans around here. A year ago you could not find a Charger if you were handing out free tickets, now this year all of the hats and car flags are out in force. I have worn my Skins Hat, shirts, and jerseys for 20 years (the last 12 have been very hard) without fail. I have endured countless ribbings form the Crappy Cowboys fans here.

Rome was not built in a day, and all of you that thought the Skins would be a one year turn around were wrong, wrong, wrong!

Portis is a great RB, and will coninue to be. Over 1200 yds in the first year with a new offense. Taylor is my new favorite player. I love the additude he brings. For the longest time it seemed the "Nice guy" Skins playing against teams that had a mean streak. I am so glad ST is bring in that "Smack you in the mouth" 'tude to the team.

Something special is going to happen for the Skins very soon, and I'm sure I'll see all of the bandwagon posts again.

P.S. I agree completely R in C

CcHhDd · Post by **CcHhDd** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 7:18 pm

I think we have a great front office, the problem is the players heart.

The front office has gotten us, portis, ramsey, resigned mccants, got us coles, randy thomas, drafted dockery,samuels and jansen,

on defense we have picked up no name guys like warner,wynn salvea and griffin to anchor the line, and then signed washington, re-signed arrington and pierce, then picked up springs who everyone thought was washed up, drafted taylor WHO IS THE BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE AND I REPEAT ROOKIE, in the league. He's a rookie folks, geez, i'd like to see any one of you guys go out there and have the season he's had in your first year with a team. The front office has done a great job in getting quality players. So don't blame this on them.

Blame it on the offense for not getting a first down when it counts, blame it on the defense for not stopping a team from driving in the fourth quarter when it counts, even though they've done it all game. Blame it on wasting timeouts for challenges, blame it on not taking a shot downfield, blame it on all that stuff, but don't blame it on two guys sitting up in the boxes who don't have anything to do with the heart of the players. THey've done a good job of getting quality players.

This team needs a brian mitchell. It needs a player to step in and slap them in the face and tell them to wake up. To tell them that a number one ranking defense doesn't mean squat if you give up a game winning touchdown to dallas. I love gibbs as a coach and football mind but I'm not too sure how in his new tenure he's gonna do in motivating the guys. SO if he can't do it then we need winning players on the team that will keep the team in line. I say give mitchell number 30 back and suit him up. He may not get any return yards but he wouldn't fumble a punt against dallas either

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:29 pm

Have you forgotten that half the reason that Portis IS a Redskin is because of a Me vs. The Team mentality? (The other half was Champ Bailey with the same syndrome.)

tnathan · Post by **tnathan** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 11:39 pm

Jeremy81 wrote: i'm sure he's questioning portis's heart again too after he sat out cause of a bruised shoulder.

I Love Mitchell, and I think on the whole he's right... but to be fair, didn't Portis have a torn muscle? I don't think at this point we should question his heart.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 12:03 am

I love Brian, but if he wants to be a coach or a part of this team (as he indicates) then he should learn to keep this stuff, and his opinions, "on the field".

Now if he is going to be another "authority" on what is right or wrong with our team then he has as much right to "preach" as all the other uninformed media types. He can just claim to have a better perspective.

I think that some of these new players including ST and CP are going to continue to make us proud to be Redskins again.

The loss to the pukes hurt a lot but I am going to enjoy our ride back to the top of the NFC even more. These players and their attitude are welcome on my team.

That game is over! We have 1 more game this year.

(d)oink · Post by **(d)oink** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 10:15 am

SkinsHead56 wrote:I wish I had an archive of all the bandwagon posts on this site. In Sept. every post was on how great it is to have Portis, lets draft Taylor, we'll be in the playoffs etc. Now every other post is is Portis a good fit, Taylor makes too many mistakes, Gibbs has lost it etc.

Amen to that. On the field, those two guys stepped up. The opinions and insight on this site are great, but the monday morning Q.B. and bandwagon posts are usually laughable.

doroshjt · Post by **doroshjt** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 10:34 am

whats with the taylor and portis hating. Taylor is a rookie and is having a hell of a year. Who would have thought vinnie would have gone to clayton, not me. Portis had a great year for such a misserable offense. He won us the first game of the year. Wasn't for him we'd only have 4 wins right now. And according to the post, "Portis tore his right pectoral muscle during Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. " man what a wuss, can't play with a torn pectoral, that kid has no heart. I think all of you haters need to get a new sense of reality

skinz74 · Post by **skinz74** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:29 am

Pokes4Life wrote:Hey dudes! Yeah, what's up with all the pretty tape job on Taylor's face mask? And what's up with all this talk from Clinton and Sean about how you have to look sweet to play better? Is image that important in Washington?

Anyway, just another season sweep for the Boys. That game reminded me of the 79' Clint Longley episode. Although this time it was an old journeyman QB and an undrafted rookie free agent catching the 32 yard winning TD with 37 seconds remaining. Classic I tell ya.

And hey, isn't Brian Mitchell half Iggle, half Giant anyway?

Precious...just precious. And you with half a brain. I'm sure that even turds enjoy their time in the sun, before they are bagged up and thrown away. So enjoy. Even though I'm sure your too ignorant to notice, we have been steadily improving through the second half of this season and have something solid to build on for next year. The pukes aren't even sure about their QB situation...hmm...fossil or ex-basesball player. I can't believe you could gloat over this. Thank you for cementing our belief that you are the lowest forms of life on earth (with a few exceptions; primetime42 and a small handful of others.)

In regards to Mitchell's rant, I can see his point. No one is bigger than the team...nor records more important than wins. I'm not accusing Taylor or Portis of these things...but as fans we don't see everything they do. Maybe there is more too this than we know. And I too would love to have Mitchell's leadership as a coach.

krills · Post by **krills** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 12:39 pm

I couldn't have said it better myself, skinz74.

Amberion · Post by **Amberion** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 6:10 pm

I think getting Portis and Taylor was an absolutely brilliant move and I think you will find that JG has an awful lot to do with them coming here

You just wait - this will in future years be seen as just the first steps on the way to the Super bowl

As a long time skins fan (since 1980 if you want to know) I loved Brian Mitchell but I think he is out of line with these comments

Gibbs4Life · Post by **Gibbs4Life** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 8:05 pm

Mitchell was good and I respect his opinion but I sense bitterness between him and the ownership so let's take his comments with a grain of salt. As far as our running back....be gratefull for #26, Trung Canidate anyone?

tcwest10 · Post by **tcwest10** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 4:10 am

Texas Hog quoted Brian Mitchell wrote:The same thing you would preach over and over again to Art Monk and all of us, that no player on that team was bigger than any other.

Brian is dropping names here. There's no way Gibbs needed to tell Art Monk that he was "not bigger than the team". Monk knew that, and played that way every single game.
So too, for that matter, did Brian Mitchell. If he says that Portis and Taylor did not play to the extent of their abilities, then I cast my lot with him.
But not on the "Monk" thing. He can bite me, on that.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 10:53 am

Let's not forget that Brain is getting "paid' to say these things now. He didn't say them prior to retiring??
On CP..if you didn't realize how cocky and self-centered this guy was prior to coming here then you’ve just had your eyes closed. He has 1300 (very quiet) yards..I still think you'll see Gibbs bring in a "big" back this off season. ST needs a mentor badly..will Gibbs get these guys to follow the program?? It's a different ballgame now, you cut a guy this week and a team will pick him up the next day, not to mention the cap ramifications. The scare tactics don't work like they used to. What I want to see (we saw some this year) is more guys playing for a job and playing as a team. You saw this on the D with Pierce, Clark, Marshall, Warner, Clemons and Lott. If guys want a fat payday let them get it somewhere else. I'm all for paying a player his worth. I know we always look at the Pats as an example, but just look at what they do with these no-name lunch pale guys!! I believe the main reason for their success it that they are able to get more of their 53 men on the same page than the other 31 teams in the league

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Brian Mitchell goes off on Portis and Taylor

Brian Mitchell goes off on Portis and Taylor

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Good Post Skinz74

Re: Brian Mitchell goes off on Portis and Taylor