In a recent interview with NBC's Dan Hellie, Clinton Portis had some feelings he wanted to express on the situation last year in Washington under former Coach Jim Zorn:
"You become nonchalant, you become a whatever, and I think I just became a whatever-type guy," Portis said, per the Washington Post. "The consideration of walking away, the idea of wanting to be traded, wanting to be out of D.C., all of the sudden it was like the people who you think know you buy into the outside conversation, like hmm, maybe he should be gone. I think that was more eye-opening, like I guess people really wanted me out of there. And I think there was a point, up until Coach Shanahan coming in, I really wanted out of there"
Clinton Portis has become known for his outspoken nature during his tenure with the Washington Redskins. From his early days of dressing up as Sheriff Gonna Getcha and Coach Janky Spanky to his recent media war with former Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington, Portis has always been a soundbite goldmine. But this time, he actually seems to be making sense (for once).
The Redskins under Jim Zorn, although starting off hot with a 6-2 record their first 8 games of the 2008 season, quickly went from bad to worse when they lost 18 of their last 24 games in the 2008-2009 seasons. The play calling was horrific. The defense couldn't stop big plays. Jason Campbell got tossed around like a rag doll behind a paper-thin offensive line. Jim Zorn quickly became a national punchline when he was stripped of his play calling duties in favor of bingo calling "offensive consultant" Sherman Lewis. Worst of all for Portis, though, is that he went from rushing for 1487 yards and being the third-leading rusher in the NFL in 2008 to rushing for 494 yards and ending up on the Injured Reserve list after a season ending concussion against the Atlanta Falcons.
This, however, is a new year. The Redskins got rid of former Darth Vader to Dan Snyder's Emperor Vinny Cerrato. They replaced him with former Redskins Coach George Allan's son, Bruce Allan. They brought in two-time Super Bowl Champion coach Mike Shanahan and his son, protege Kyle Shanahan. They made probably one of the biggest offseason trades in the history of the NFL when they obtained Donovan McNabb from the Phildelphia Eagles on Easter Sunday of this year. Change is most definately in the air.
Portis seems to have been invigorated by the new regime under his former coach Mike Shanahan. Although the team has brought in aging veterans Larry Johnson and Willie Parker and have extended a contract offer to former Philadelphia Eagle Brian Westbrook, Portis seems to be thriving off of the competition. Portis has reported to more offseason OTA's and minicamps than he has in years past and early rumors are that Portis is looking more like his old self by the day. An inspired Portis, combined with a Mike Shanahan offense could equal a very productive season for the 28 year old back. As all Redskins fans know, after last year's abysmal rushing attack finished 27th in the league, they could certainly use all the help they can get.
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