Portis sounds off
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
December 10, 2008
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| Clinton Portis, above, had some harsh words for Redskins coach Jim Zorn on ESPN 980's John Thompson Show. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP) |
ASHBURN —
Skins running back takes a verbal swing at Zorn
After losing to Baltimore Sunday night, Redskins running back Clinton Portis’ body language, and sarcastic answers, revealed his frustration. Two days later, he only needed blistering words.
“If you need to split ties with me, split ties with me,” Portis said during his regular appearance on ESPN 980’s John Thompson Show. “But don’t throw me out like I don’t pay attention, like I don’t know what’s going on, like I’m making mistakes, like I’m the problem.”
Portis was initially upset about playing just one series in the second half of Sunday’s 24-10 loss to Baltimore. Redskins coach Jim Zorn said Monday that he didn’t play more in large part because he had missed practice time and said it slowed him a little on some pass plays. Zorn re-iterated on his radio show that it wasn’t a benching and that Portis wasn’t exact on some of his routes.
“That’s some BS to go out and say I don’t know what’s going on,” Portis said, adding that he’s in meetings and on the practice field even when he can’t practice. “You go back and watch film, I guarantee you don’t see me making mistakes but maybe he’s watching different film than me.”
Portis said he was slow getting out on routes because he was helping to block.
“One day it’s don’t chip on your way out and then if you don’t chip and the quarterback gets sacked it’s like, ‘Oh, you need to help this man out,’” Portis said. “They don’t know what they want. [Quarterback Jason Campbell] is on his [butt] all game long. You try to stay in to help and then it’s, ‘Oh, you should get out.’ ... I ain’t doing nothing I ain’t supposed to do. I’ll get out on my pass route and that’s where I’ll be. If someone else gives up a sack that’s on them.”
Portis is the NFL’s third-leading rusher with 1,260 yards. But he hasn’t scored in the past six games while the Redskins have lost four of five.
“I don’t know where it went wrong,” he said. “All I know is it’s going wrong. Since I don’t practice, since I’m the only person who don’t practice and comes out and tries to play and give it what I got, maybe I’m the problem.
“We’ve got a genius for a head coach. I’m sure he’s on top of things. He’s got everything figured out.”
Skins notes
» The Redskins signed tackle Devin Clark and guard Will Montgomery, a Centreville graduate, after placing tackle Chris Samuels and guard/center Justin Geisinger on injured reserve. They also cut defensive end Erasmus James.
» The Redskins’ Dec. 21 game vs. Philadelphia was moved to a 4:15 p.m. start.
