Clinton Portis shouldn’t play again this season. Neither should Chris Cooley. It’s not a hard decision. Send them right to injured reserve with hopes both return to Pro Bowl form in 2010.
It’s not easy for the Washington Redskins to part with their two best offensive players. Not with the roster losing players seemingly each week. Ladell Betts and Chad Rinehart were the latest on Sunday to suffer season-ending injuries.
The Redskins are 3-7, though. There’s no real reason for Portis and Cooley to return. Not with the risk each carries. If it was a playoff push, maybe, but it’s not. It’s just another sad season that will bring massive change to the front office and roster in January.
Why risk these two stars for maybe one more win? Actually, that would only further lessen chances of a high draft pick in April. No one will remember if the Redskins win three, four or five games this year. Fans who recall this blight will simply remember it as another injury-riddled, underperforming team.
Cooley is the easier call. He’ll miss another 10 days before the boot covering his broken ankle is removed. Then he’ll need at least — and we’re saying at least — another two weeks to get ready. That leaves two games remaining. Seriously, you want Cooley fresh off a broken ankle to risk further injury in a couple of meaningless games?
This type of injury can cost Cooley a step — the difference between Pro Bowler and an also-ran. Cooley is not only the team’s most popular player, but perhaps the only offensive player with a chance of entering Canton one day.
Portis’ return is a little trickier. He has missed two games since his head was sandwiched between two defenders. Portis is definitely out another week and probably two.
Portis might be able to return for the final month — maybe. But concussions have become the new cause around the NFL, and for good reason. They’re silent killers in the athletes’ later years.
I’ve seen many players suffer a concussion on Sunday, swear they’re retiring on Tuesday, feel better by Friday and want to play on Sunday. And those were the lighter ones.
The Redskins were smart to rest Portis. Now tell Portis the rest of his life is more important, even if he never again plays for this franchise.
It’s time to do the right thing.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
