Try NFL Sport Channel Seach:
Selected searches:
NFL Football Players Draft Injuries Rookies Season Superbowl
Items by
Clinton Portis Pours Gasoline on Redskins’ Hot Seat
Published: September 24, 2009
No Comments
Bottom line: You know that an owner is far too involved in the affairs of a football team when the team’s best player tells the truth on fan perspective. So here we go with Clinton Portis, and the beginning of the end for the Washington franchise as we know it.
“I mean, performance, as a team,” Portis said. “We’re getting booed coming off the field. So I think everybody in this organization on the hot seat. You know, I think you look at the owner, he on the verge of losing fans. You know, how long before people just give up and stop coming? You look at the players, and people want you out of here. You look at the coach, people want you out of here. So who’s not on the hot seat? Until we come out and play to our potential, I think everybody on the hot seat.”
Translation: The coach can’t call plays. The players can’t execute the plays that he does call. And the owner won’t get out of his own way.
The best part about this is that the fans may actually be waking up to the startling truth. This is beyond being a bad football team. This is a bad organization with a strange mix of arrogance and timidity at the executive levels.
A look around Washington football message boards doesn’t reveal a disenchantment with players, or even the coaches. It’s beginning at the top with Daniel Snyder and his meddling.
Which brings me back to the same point when I always use this space to discuss this team: Why pay for it? Why support the madness? It makes good business sense for Snyder to sell the annual dream and build it up for next year’s hope.
But for coaches who have to make players grow within an ill-fitting system, for players who have to execute under an inexperienced coaching staff, and for both entities to shoulder the burden of an overbearing, egotistical owner, it doesn’t ring the bell of an accommodating work environment.
And the sad part? The coaches and players aren’t that far off from making something good happen.
It’s one thing for me as a blogger to hate the team nickname, to despise the ownership group, and to mock the fans who blindly support it all. But I feel for the millions of fans out there who are genuinely tired of supporting a poorly run business.
Football shouldn’t be an agonizing exercise in faith and dedication. It should be a community place for you to celebrate competition and spirit for the city of Washington.
Snyder has taken so much of that away, just to earn that extra dollar.
So Clinton Portis is right—Daniel Snyder is on the verge of losing fans. And it couldn’t happen fast enough to a more worthy, greedy individual.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Redefining the Clinton Administration
Published: September 17, 2009
No Comments
It seems so far off that Clinton Portis was a serious contender for the NFL MVP award just a season ago. Through half of a season, Portis had rushed for 995 yards, seven touchdowns, and the affection of rabid Washington football faithful.
By the time the season had concluded, Portis rushed for 100 yards in a game just once more, added only two more touchdowns, and had become critical of play calling that seemed to render all aspects of the offense predictable and ineffective.
If there is a reason to worry in Washington, it is not that the team lacks playmakers or talent to win games. It’s that the talent doesn’t believe they are put in positions to excel, a sentiment that starts and ends with Clinton Portis.
If the best player on the team doesn’t feel there is more he can give, if he doesn’t feel that more opportunities will reverse a course destined for .500 or worse in the standings, there’s no reason to assume that quarterback Jason Campbell will exude the confidence needed to keep his job.
There’s no reason that Jim Zorn will be confident enough to call high-risk, high-reward plays that will keep defenses honest.
And there’s no reason to think that Daniel Snyder will be confident enough in the team to refrain from blowing it up with Bill Cowher dynamite.
So, basically, this all starts with Clinton Portis. If he doesn’t believe that he can be productive, it all goes downhill. But if Washington gets him going—with eight straight carries if necessary—for him to feel that it’s his offense, then that is surely what this team needs to do.
Not just against the St. Louis Rams, but to set the tone for one of the most important seasons in team history.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Troy Polamalu, Meet the Madden Curse
Published: September 11, 2009
No Comments
Every year, some ultra-competitive, non-superstitious athlete signs up to be on the cover of the Madden NFL football video game.
Every year, an unfortunate happenstance befalls that athlete.
This year, it just happens to work out for the Ravens’ benefit, as Troy Polamalu went down in last night’s season opener with what is now being called an MCL sprain.
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee late in the first half of their 13-10 overtime victory against Tennessee on Thursday night. Coach Mike Tomlin said the injury usually sidelines a player from three to six weeks.
I feel bad for Polamalu because he’s a tremendous player, has funny commercials, and seems pretty likeable. But you can’t root for the Ravens and not take heart in the Steeler’s losing one of their best players, even if just for a few weeks. Polamalu out of the lineup could mean a win or a loss that could be the difference in if the Ravens with the AFC North.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Ravens Game Day Prices Go Up The Charts, Upside Your Head
Published: September 10, 2009
No Comments
Who woulda thunk it? The Baltimore Ravens have a more expensive game day experience than their NFC counterparts down the road in Washington.
The average family of four will pay $481.69—the fourth-highest price among all 32 NFL teams—to attend a Ravens home game in 2009, according to the latest NFL Fan Cost Index, an annual report by Chicago-based Team Marketing Research. That’s an increase of 13.1 percent, the second-largest hike in the NFL, compared with last season.
The Dallas Cowboys, who will play in a new $1.2 billion stadium, are first on the index, at $758.58. The Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Ravens and New York Jets rounded out the top five.
To review, the only teams that are worth seeing more than the Ravens are America’s Team in a billion-dollar stadium, and three teams playing in the largest media markets in the country.
Yeah, those tickets are worth every penny, jack.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Will the Real Jason Campbell Please Stand Up?
Published: September 10, 2009
No Comments
Which Jason Campbell will be the quarterback Washington football fans can check for this year? The quarterback who is maligned and halfway out of town? Or is he the second coming of Doug Williams, as Clinton Portis has so eloquently stated recently?
His performance is what this season is all about. Clinton Portis could finish this season with close to 11,000 yards rushing for his career, positioning himself for Hall of Fame consideration with about three or four good years remaining in his career.
It won’t matter.
Malcolm Kelly could prove to be one of the elite young receivers in the NFL this year, capable of drawing comparisons to Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson by year’s end.
It won’t matter.
Brian Orakpo could be the second coming of Lawrence Taylor, wreaking havoc on the weak side of the entire NFC East.
It won’t matter.
All that matters is that Washington wins at least 10 games, and that Jason Campbell is the prominent figure in each of those anticipated 10 wins.
Never mind the fact that he went half a season in 2008 without an interception, it was all about the amazing Clinton Portis during that run. When the tide turned on the team, it wasn’t Clinton Portis who shouldered the blame.
It was Campbell, who wasn’t the only individual with scaled-back production during the swoon, but was the sole recipient of the talk-radio and print-media drama that followed.
Most people are in Jason Campbell’s corner, and no one heads up that corner’s cheers louder than me.
But from a place of objectivity, there is a fine line between success and failure for Campbell this upcoming season, and nothing else Washington can do or is capable of doing will overshadow the consistency he needs to bring from week one and beyond.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Andre’ Woodson Is the Sentinel
Published: September 7, 2009
No Comments
If you think a guy has the potential to spill secrets to a division rival after you cut him, how about not cutting Andre’ Woodson, New York Giants?
“I have been a part of it,” Coughlin said Monday when asked whether he has ever signed a player released by a team he was about to play. “I have seen it done. A guy doesn’t get in the door two seconds, and he is in a classroom being grilled.”
Sorry, but I have to side with Washington on this one. Besides, Woodson should make for an interesting practice squad battle with the “injured” Colt Brennan next season.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Ravens Go With Four Receivers…Huh?
Published: September 7, 2009
No Comments
The Ravens cut the majority of the wide receivers they brought in through draft and free agency, and from all appearances, seem comfortable with the core of Derrick Mason, Demetrius Williams, Mark Clayton, and Kelley Washington.
I trust Ozzie Newsome, but unless the Ravens plan on doing more two receiver sets than we think they are capable of, this doesn’t seem like the smartest move.
Three of the receivers they’ve retained, Clayton, Williams and Mason, have current or recent bouts with injury. Washington is a Bengals castoff. Doesn’t really seem like a top flight crew, particularly for a team that all opponents know will run the ball into the dirt 70 percent of the time.
Granted, the receivers they brought in didn’t have the greatest preseasons, but there’s something that has to give with the M.A.S.H. unit that will be lining up split end this year. I can see cutting Justin Harper because you can find better hands at Baltimore Blast games than he showed through four games. But it is wise to keep his size and speed on the practice squad; just in case he does turn the corner on being able to catch the ball.
Still, four receivers that haven’t been the most durable part of the emerging Ravens offense seems a little risky for a Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Maryland Terrapins Do Not Belong On the West Coast
Published: September 7, 2009
No Comments
Let’s just tell the truth; the University of Maryland and athletes associated with the University of Maryland have no business on the West Coast.
The Terrapins football team traveled to the west side to take on the Cal Bears this past weekend. They’ll be lucky if Ralph Friedgen doesn’t take turns attempting to crush each offensive player’s larynx tomorrow morning, when the Terps review film of the 52-13 stomping.
Shortly thereafter, we find out that former Terp Shawne Merriman is alleged to have choked out his arm candy girlfriend Tila Tequila. It is the latest setback for a mohawked linebacker who has battled injury, steroid-related suspensions, and a stupid dance routine throughout his four years with the San Diego Chargers.
Former Terps tight end Vernon Davis? His career has been highlighted by injury and spawned a terrific rant from San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary.
And then there’s Darrius Heyward-Bey, whom I thought would become a sports marketing lightning rod, has yet to make a play big enough to draw more than a blank, black hole stare from Oakland Raiders enthusiasts.
So there you have it, Maryland Terrapins do not belong anywhere near the state of California. Sure, the weather is nice, the girls are pretty and the love is free at face value, but football just doesn’t translate over to that side. My advice? Stay on the east coast, and muddle your way through a productively-anonymous career. Like this guy.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Daniel Snyder and the Economics of Fan Stupidity
Published: September 3, 2009
No Comments
Every knowledgeable fan knows that an NFL owner, in this case Daniel Snyder, makes money off of the sweet seats in luxury boxes, not off the yokels who buy single tickets. So to be fair, the Washington NFL franchise has every right to pursue funds owed them by delinquent purchasers of their best seat offerings.
But how ironic that Washington is now pursuing more than $8 million from companies and individuals who reneged on their long-term suite agreements, while the team is under fire for depriving fans of tickets in favor of selling to brokerage firms?
Yes, we should laugh heartily at the rich morons who either A) love Washington football that much or B) thought that Washington football was that impressive to sway potential business deals in their favor.
But save some laughter for the ignorant fans can’t buy tickets because Snyder can make quicker money selling to ticket hawks.
Somehow, nearly 100,000 people are going to cram their way into FedEx Field this season on eight separate occasions, in spite of an owner who sues financially-stupid fans and withholds tickets from emotionally-stupid fans.
Arguing a pass for fans looking at this situation with bleary-eyed allegiance to this snake-swallowed franchise is logical, but it doesn’t take away from the greediness level of the ownership, and the maddening dullness of the fans who allow it.
Sure, Snyder has a right to go after white-collared doofs who can’t afford their season tickets for the next 10 years.
But it doesn’t take away from the revised tailgating rules that will ruin the gameday experience, or the constant pursuit of free agents who take the money and run. At least, those in decent enough shape to run.
This team isn’t worthy of support from Washington’s rich, middle-class or no-class. They have a stadium routinely filled with opposing fans, which may or may not be at Snyder’s bidding, and are routinely rooted in transition; be it with coaches, players, or expectations of both.
But it’s easy to see the funny side of this entire culture surrounding the ownership and fan base of the Washington franchise.
Ownership doesn’t think the fans could ever wise up to its schemes, and fans hope they are never forced to do so.
Why Do Former Washington Redskins Hate Clinton Portis?
Published: September 2, 2009
No Comments
Is it because he’s productive? Is it because he’s willing to open his mouth and give an opinion? Maybe it’s a combination of both that makes John Riggins the latest Washington football legend to criticize current star running back Clinton Portis.
It was one thing when it was Brian Mitchell; his entire career has been built on running his mouth, and fortunately, it paid off for him occasionally.
But Riggins? A man more locally renowned for public drunkenness and being a fruitcake than the solid numbers he put up in the Washington backfield? Does he really have any room to criticize the way someone handles their on-the-field affairs?
Old people hate young people they aren’t related to, particularly young people willing to have an opinion on anything. Old people get the benefit of respect and reverence. Youth are cursed with inexperience and disdain from those who should be mentoring them instead of criticizing them.
For Portis, who is far richer and far more nationally relevant than Mitchell or Riggins could ever hope to be, it’s just a question of realizing the root of the misplaced hate. If Art Monk or Darrell Green had something bad to say, then CP might have something to worry about.
But for two of the former playing trying everything in their power to be more than whispers in the minds of Washington fans, there’s really nothing for Clinton Portis to do but admire their fight at staying relevant.
