The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

BernieSki wrote:Did anyone here the remarks that Greg Williams made about Clinton Portis? I was listening to the radio this morning and the reporter said that Greg Williams was concerned that Clinton Portis took himself out of the game for several plays last week. He reported that William's said, "Portis has too much say so about when he plays".

I hope that Greg Williams does not start some kind of trouble within the team, he needs to keep feelings like this between the coaches. When you bring the media in all it does is start to create problems.

ASHBURN -- When Clinton Portis took himself out of the game with the score tied late in the fourth quarter, the coach calling the plays was far from pleased.

"I was not happy about that," Washington Redskins assistant Al Saunders said Wednesday.

Portis, who decides when he plays and when he sits, decided to sit mid-drive with the score tied at 27 and the ball in the opponent's territory in Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ladell Betts entered and ran the ball on the next three plays, including a third-and-1 that he failed to convert.

"The first thing that went through my mind: 'Why are you coming out?'" Saunders said. "I talked to Clinton about that today. There's a scenario, and you're trying to set up things sometimes. And if he comes out to -- quote, as he said -- 'recover,' it sometimes really throws you off."

That third and one that Betts failed to convert was huge.

but I believe it's a coach's job to tell a player when to sit.

Coach Joe Gibbs, who started letting Portis enter and exit more or less at will last year, stood by his player. Saunders, he noted, is new to the team and is still learning the ways of the flamboyant running back.

"We're so used to it from last year because there was a lot of freedom with Clinton last year," Gibbs said. "If he comes out, he's got something that's bothering him or he's gassed, and he's afraid that by staying in there he's going to hurt us. I just think it's one of those things you have to trust him on."

Saunders, who has installed a new offense after being hired from Kansas City, agreed that he's still trying to figure Portis out. Still, when push comes to shove, he wants his best players in the game.

"There's a reason he's the starter, and when it's a critical part of the game, you'd like your No. 1 guy in there," Saunders said.

Fios wrote:Let's not blow this up into something larger than it is, for all we know this is a dead issue

SkinzCanes wrote:I can think of a recently acquired running back that would've been perfect for that situation.

Now the media is just trying to anything to distract the Skins because, in general, I find that the Media are not the biggest Skins supporters.

This "story" (for lack of a better word) is just something that is being dug up to try to start a controversy that doesn't exist.

BrodysDad wrote:If it is true, what happened to the whole "call me what you want to, but when the game is on the line, call my number" thing? I mean, I love Clinton, but I too was puzzled when he wasn't in there on that 3rd and 1.