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

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:35 pm**

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."

http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/01/portis-says-he-and-zorn-are-together.html

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:03 pm**

Take it for what it's worth but you know Riggins is right. He's spewing everything all of us have said since mid season.

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 5:10 pm**

Every year, too. Riggo's never been the quiet type, has he? Sometimes he goes overboard, but you can hold Theismann and B-Mitch to that same standard.

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 5:37 pm**

VRIEL1 wrote:Take it for what it's worth but you know Riggins is right. He's spewing everything all of us have said since mid season.

He is absolutely dead on about Portis' relationship with Snyder. When a player can circumvent the coach and go talk to the owner, it really shows that the coach has little power over that player.

Remember when Portis blew up on the radio, and Snyder's only response was "That's Clinton" (and Clinton said "Me and Mr. Snyder are close.")? That's not a good thing...Snyder should have supported Zorn more, in my opinion.

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:11 pm**

Remember when Portis blew up on the radio, and Snyder's only response was "That's Clinton" (and Clinton said "Me and Mr. Snyder are close.")? That's not a good thing...Snyder should have supported Zorn more, in my opinion.

No owner is going to publicly back a struggling first year HC over their star player. Simply isn't going to happen. Lets also not forget that what happened was Zorn's doing. Zorn rode CP into the ground during the first 8 games of the season and then publicly criticized him once the team started losing. Not a smart move at all. I've blamed Snyder for a lot of things but Zorn brought that on himself.

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:29 pm**

PulpExposure wrote:
VRIEL1 wrote:Take it for what it's worth but you know Riggins is right. He's spewing everything all of us have said since mid season.

He is absolutely dead on about Portis' relationship with Snyder. When a player can circumvent the coach and go talk to the owner, it really shows that the coach has little power over that player.

Remember when Portis blew up on the radio, and Snyder's only response was "That's Clinton" (and Clinton said "Me and Mr. Snyder are close.")? That's not a good thing...Snyder should have supported Zorn more, in my opinion.

I don't have to many issues with what CP says just how most of it is reported.

What did Portis do? He did put himself first when talking about "the Danny", but when has he put himself before the team? I can't say that he has, sure he threw the O-line under the bus but they were playing like they had been run over by one. And the think about not getting 1500 yards came after the season.
That being said... It kind of looks like the relationship "the Danny" had with LaVar and we all know how that ended.

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:01 pm**

CanesSkins26 wrote:
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."

Ah, yeah, ok... :roll:

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:13 pm**

CanesSkins26 wrote:
Remember when Portis blew up on the radio, and Snyder's only response was "That's Clinton" (and Clinton said "Me and Mr. Snyder are close.")? That's not a good thing...Snyder should have supported Zorn more, in my opinion.

No owner is going to publicly back a struggling first year HC over their star player. Simply isn't going to happen. Lets also not forget that what happened was Zorn's doing. Zorn rode CP into the ground during the first 8 games of the season and then publicly criticized him once the team started losing. Not a smart move at all. I've blamed Snyder for a lot of things but Zorn brought that on himself.

What a bunch of crap. You're so hell bent on endlessly criticizing the team that you distort every story. First, Snyder and Cerrato have done nothing but support their 1st year head coach. CP actually complained he didn't get enough carries, but Zorn had issue with Portis pulling himself out of games, something that Gibbs started. Zorn was right and brought nothing on himself. This goes right back to the issue of CP circumventing the coach. Zorn had every right to call CP's bluff on that issue. Zorn is the coach and deserves to be the one to call the shots on the field. Portis ultimately recognized that and that's why they're "together" now.

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:30 pm**

First, Snyder and Cerrato have done nothing but support their 1st year head coach.

Wrong. When a player publicly calls out a player and the owner's response is "Clinton is being Clinton", that isn't supporting the coach.

CP actually complained he didn't get enough carries, but Zorn had issue with Portis pulling himself out of games, something that Gibbs started. Zorn was right and brought nothing on himself. This goes right back to the issue of CP circumventing the coach. Zorn had every right to call CP's bluff on that issue. Zorn is the coach and deserves to be the one to call the shots on the field. Portis ultimately recognized that and that's why they're "together" now.

This has nothing to do with CP taking himself out of games. That was an early season incident. What started the controversy was Zorn saying in the media that the reason CP didn't play at the end of a game was because he had missed practice and wasn't ready to pass block/run routes. CP took offense to that and rightfully defended himself on the John Thompson Show. Zorn was wrong to call out a player for missing practice when the reason CP was missing practice was bc Zorn ran him into the ground during the first half of the year. CP blowing up on the radio was a result of what Zorn said and he brought that incident on himself.[/quote]

Posted: **Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:41 pm**

Here's what you fail to comprehend... Zorn runs this team, not Portis. Portis can cry all he wants, but at the end of the day, Zorn is the coach and has every right to sit Portis, as Gibbs did many times, for missing practice for whatever reason. Portis had these same complaints under Gibbs as well. This is nothing new for Portis and why Snyder said what he did. That doesn't mean Snyder was undermining Zorn in any way. But whatever, dude... I know your MO.

Posted: **Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:25 am**

SkinsFreak wrote:Here's what you fail to comprehend... Zorn runs this team, not Portis. Portis can cry all he wants, but at the end of the day, Zorn is the coach and has every right to sit Portis, as Gibbs did many times, for missing practice for whatever reason. Portis had these same complaints under Gibbs as well. This is nothing new for Portis and why Snyder said what he did. That doesn't mean Snyder was undermining Zorn in any way. But whatever, dude... I know your MO.

I agree SkinsFreak. Fact is Snyder is the owner, Zorn is the head coach. The players play for the coach not the owner and he and his coaches are going to get the players to be a better team or not. It really is as simple as that and making stuff up from what is 'reported' by a bunch of people who have an agenda against the team's FO and some fans who just want to point out all the negatives is just the way it is until this team performs better.

What I got from this is that Portis understands that and that Portis is going to be here playing for us. He cannot be let go and while I think he's an incredible back, IF he even wanted to go somewhere else (which I don't believe he does) he needs to show he's really worth the sort of money we are paying him and he has not really done that.

I could not care less what contact he's had with the team or the coaches - they certainly do not need his input to know aything more than is obvious to everybody - we need help on both lines and we need better performance from both the players and the game planning.

This is not brain surgery, this is a game and we did not play it very well last season. :wink:

Posted: **Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:32 pm**

Riggins for 'Skins GM!!! What a dream come true that would be. He is 100% Correct in this article IMO.

Posted: **Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:05 pm**

1fan4ramsey wrote:
CanesSkins26 wrote:
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."

Ah, yeah, ok...

Hey 1fan4ramsey, he wasn't serious about that man, no way :lol:

Posted: **Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:51 pm**

TeeterSalad wrote:Riggins for 'Skins GM!!! What a dream come true that would be. He is 100% Correct in this article IMO.

No way. I listen to him too much! He waffles more than than a cook at the Waffle House. If you don't like what he says, wait a second, because he will change his mind. The only thing he has been consistent about is his disdain for Portis. He thinks Portis is and average back and the team could have done just as well with Ladel or Rock at RB. He has said that on numerous occasions.

JR sometimes doesn't even know what he is going to say until it leaves his mouth and then will take a 180 and say the exact opposite in his next breath.

On the subject of Snyder saying "that is just Clinton being Clinton" I never did see how that was undermining JZ. He basically said Clinton is a tard and spouts of at the mouth and you can't take anything he says seriously. That is how I took it. He was brushing off a situation that was between a player and the coach. He took no side and let JZ & CP handle it. It isn't like he said CP was right and Zorn should have know better. I am surprised you got any comment from Snyder! He typically doesn't talk to the media during the season.

The media is the only reason that comment was even an issue.

Posted: **Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:39 pm**

As a supervisor with a superior in the same office, I can relate. There are employees like CP in every workplace.
For instance...let's say there's a guy on my crew who has been with the company for a few years. He's seen supervisors come and go, but has been with the man who is now my superior for the entire length of time. There's a relationship there between the two of them. Now, let's beef up his profile a little bit. He's a veteran. He knows what he's doing. He doesn't like to sit through safety meetings. He's comfortable in his seniority, and it gives him a sense of entitlement.
Let's say I ask him to do a job, and he doesn't feel like doing it that day. He'll go through his litany of excuses about why it can't be done, but I stand firm and insist that he get it done. He'll do it, but when my superior comes in, the employee will stroll into his office and close the door behind him.
When he comes out 15-20 minutes later, he's sporting a smug look. My superior comes out and says, "You know, he's been a round a while. It might not hurt to get his input on jobs or methods that you might not be all that familar with."

Not that this happens to me. A few years back, it happened repeatedly, but there's been a changing of the guard...and the new superior was once sitting at my desk and had been similarly burned by that employee.
Every supervisor I talk to has at least one of those types on his crew. Why should sports franchise be any different?

Posted: **Wed Feb 04, 2009 11:52 am**

I can't believe all the hate here on Clinton Portis! He has been the ultimate Back for the Washington Redskins and the only real offensive threat that we have had to offer in a real long time...perhaps since Stephen Davis and really beyond that. It's not like Clinton stays in the news for shoot-outs and drug use. As a matter of fact, Clinton has NEVER been in any off-field problems whatsoever, not here nor his days in Denver.

Clinton, may not always be the most Policitically Correct speaker for the Redskins, but so what! If I wanted political, I'd stick with President Obama. You guys will not be satisfied until he scores touchdowns and long runs with another team. He has been GREAT for us! The only real reason to cheer for the Burgundy and Gold...at least offensively. Is it any wonder how CP has managed to break every single rushing record the Redskins has ever had and he has only played 4 seasons for us. That means he has been consistent and consistently good! We can't really chime into a coach and a players' disagreement. That is a human trait...we all have had disagreements with an employer, superior, teacher, landlord, parents, older brother or sister, etc.

And as for Mr. Riggins...does he really warrant any merit at all? I mean really...I stop listening to him years ago when his sports analysis sounded a bit Coo-koo. His jealousy of Clinton Portis is more and more obivious. An average back, CP is not! And with Betts or Cartwright as our feature back...well, you all know that story, don't you all?

Posted: **Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:05 pm**

[quote="CanesSkins26"][quote]Portis Says He and Zorn Are 'Together'

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."

Is he really serious!!!! Why do we subscribe to such horrors as Fans... :cry:

Posted: **Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:55 pm**

I agree ICEMAN. Portis was on his way to a MVP season if he did not get injured?

Posted: **Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:34 pm**

JOSPORTSCO wrote:I agree ICEMAN. Portis was on his way to a MVP season if he did not get injured?

You are absolutely right JOSPORTSCO! He was on his way to an MVP season. And surely he should of gotten his 1,500 yard season at the very least. We just need to get our passing game on track through Moss, Cool

ey and our new guys i.e., Fred Davis. We just don't scare teams vertically, like we should. Teams are still crowding the box, i.e., Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Giants and yes the Bengals. We would have such a lethal offense with a consistent O-line and a balance offensive attack.

Posted: **Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:33 pm**

ICEMAN wrote:
JOSPORTSCO wrote:I agree ICEMAN. Portis was on his way to a MVP season if he did not get injured?

You are absolutely right JOSPORTSCO! He was on his way to an MVP season. And surely he should of gotten his 1,500 yard season at the very least. We just need to get our passing game on track through Moss, ey and our new guys i.e., Fred Davis. We just don't scare teams vertically, like we should. Teams are still crowding the box, i.e., Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Giants and yes the Bengals. We would have such a lethal offense with a consistent O-line and a balance offensive attack.

Man... I wish everyone else could comprehend this.

Posted: **Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:52 pm**

Chris Luva Luva wrote:
ICEMAN wrote:
JOSPORTSCO wrote:I agree ICEMAN. Portis was on his way to a MVP season if he did not get injured?

You are absolutely right JOSPORTSCO! He was on his way to an MVP season. And surely he should of gotten his 1,500 yard season at the very least. We just need to get our passing game on track through Moss, ey and our new guys i.e., Fred Davis. We just don't scare teams vertically, like we should. Teams are still crowding the box, i.e., Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Giants and yes the Bengals. We would have such a lethal offense with a consistent O-line and a balance offensive attack.

Man... I wish everyone else could comprehend this.

That's my true wish Chris...it really is!

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