Clinton Portis

[edit] Denver Broncos

Portis rushed for over 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Broncos, averaging 5.5 yards per carry in that span. The latter is an NFL record for a running back's first two seasons. On December 7, 2003, Portis scored a staggering 5 rushing touchdowns in a 45-27 win over the 11-1 Kansas City Chiefs. No running back in the NFL has scored more than 4 rushing TDs since.

After Portis' first season with the Broncos, he was named The "NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year" by the Associated Press and was also voted to the Pro Bowl in 2003.

[edit] Trade

Prior to the 2004 season, the Broncos traded Portis to the Redskins for cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round draft pick in the 2004 NFL Draft which the Broncos used to select Tatum Bell. The Redskins signed Portis to an eight-year contract worth $50.5 million. At that time, there were criticisms regarding the trade, namely that shut-down corners like Bailey were hard to come by and that adding a second-round pick for Portis was too much and one-sided. Critics also felt that Portis was simply a product of the Broncos' O-line scheme, and would not have much success in Washington, which was usually suited to more physical, power runners (such as Stephen Davis or John Riggins). Such trades involving star players are relatively rare in the NFL.

[edit] Washington Redskins

In the 2004 season, he had to adjust to coach Joe Gibbs' style of running, which consists of mostly power running. Despite taking his first Redskins carry 64 yards for a TD in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was a pretty rough adjustment for Portis because Denver's running style consisted of stretch runs and runs to the outside. The adjustment was made rougher by a depleted offensive line. He finished 2004 with 1,315 yards for a 3.8 yard rushing average. He had a tougher time finding the end zone, finishing with eight total touchdowns (5 rushing, 2 receiving, and one passing).

He bounced back in the 2005 season. Although Gibbs still ran a power style of football, he implemented more outside running plays into the Redskins rushing attack to better suit Portis' style of running. Portis had a much better season, proving that he can run inside as well as to the outside and was a better pass-blocker. Although he didn't get into the end zone until the fifth game of the season, he finished strong and had 12 total touchdowns (11 rushing and one passing). On a 14-yard run against the Philadelphia Eagles on January 1, 2006, he broke the Redskins' franchise record for the most rushing yards in a season with 1,516 yards and tied the most 100+ yard games in a season (5). He ended the game with 112 rushing yards. By rushing for 1,516 yards, he became only the third runner in league history to reach 1,500 yards in three of his first four seasons.

Portis demonstrated his speed during the 2006 Redskins training camp, running a 4.25 second 40-yard dash. Shortly following that, on August 13, 2006, Portis suffered a partially dislocated shoulder in the first quarter of a Week 1 pre-season game after tackling Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Keiwan Ratliff following a Bengals interception. After the injury, Portis said: "I don't know why myself or any other player of my caliber should be playing in the preseason." He added, "I think for the last four years I've done enough to show the world I'm going to be ready for the season."

There was no immediate indication from the Redskins as to when Portis might return to active playing status ^[4]. However, he returned early into the Redskins' Monday Night Football game against the Minnesota Vikings, where he gained 39 yards on 10 carries with one touchdown. The Redskins lost 19-16, the clock expiring as Redskins kicker John Hall missed wide left on a field goal. Portis rebounded the last two weeks with 16 carries for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Houston Texans, and 27 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Nagged by injuries all season, Portis suffered another setback in the first quarter of the Redskins' November 12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Portis left the game with a hand injury and was replaced by backup Ladell Betts. X-rays revealed that Portis broke his right hand during the game. He was operated on and placed on the Redskins' Injured Reserve list three days later, on November 15 ^[5].

On November 26, 2007, while talking to reporters about the life-threatening ordeal facing teamate Sean Taylor, Portis said: "That shit ain't that serious" in reference to the Cowboys and Buccaneers loss, and it went on NFL.com as such uncensored (it can be found at 3:36 of the 4:22 second clip)[1]

Redskins agreed to guarantee Portis' 2008-2009 and a large portion of his 2010 base salaries in March. This will equal up to $15 million dollars in guarantees. Portis, also got a $9.32 million "signing bonus" upon restructuring. ^[6]

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Portis is represented by fellow University of Miami alumnus Drew Rosenhaus, one of the NFL's most aggressive player agents.
• Portis's cousin Josh was a top recruit as a quarterback for the University of Florida, but later transferred to the University of Maryland.
• Portis appeared on the cover of the NCAA Gamebreaker 2003 game for PlayStation 2, while playing with the University of Miami Hurricanes.
• Portis is known for often wearing various costumes at Thursday press conferences that represent fictional characters he has developed, including personas such as "Southeast Jerome", "Coach Janky Spanky", "Bro Sweets", "Choo-Choo", "Sheriff Gonnagetcha", and "Dolemite Jenkins."
• When Portis joined the Redskins in 2004, his jersey number (26) was already taken by safety Ifeanyi Ohalete (now with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League). Portis agreed to pay Ohalete $40,000 (in three installments) in order to get his number. When Ohalete was cut by the team during the summer, Portis thought that he didn't have to pay him the remaining installments. Ohalete felt otherwise, and eventually the dispute was settled with Portis paying him the rest of the money. Portis originally wanted to have a boxing match with Ohalete for his number 26 but Ohalete declined the challenge.
• On the May 14th 2007 episode of a BET show titled Ballers, Portis guaranteed that the Redskins would make it to the NFC Championship Game saying "I think this year we're going to make a lot of news. We went out and got what we needed. I actually think this will be our year. We're going to be in the NFC championship game. I guarantee that. Whatever that takes, we're going to get there." ^[7].
• In the 2007 movie Transformers, a pivotal character named Glen Whitmann (played by actor Anthony Anderson) wears a replica Clinton Portis Redskins away jersey throughout most of the film.
• In defense of Michael Vick, Portis said, "I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it's his property, it's his dog," Portis told WAVY-TV. "If that's what he wants to do, do it." He then added, "I think people should mind their business." He was then asked if dog-fighting is prevalent in the NFL, and Portis answered, "I mean it's prevalent in life... I'm from Laurel, Mississippi. I know a lot of back roads that got the dog fight if you want to go see it."

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

• Clinton Portis Official Web Site.
• Clinton Portis stats
• "One on one with Clinton Portis", HoboTrashcan.com.
• Clinton Portis at ESPN.com.
• Clinton Portis Official Press Conference from 10/05/2006.
• Pro-Football-Reference.com - career statistics..
• "Redskins rusher not seeking quiet offseason", ESPN, January 4, 2005.
• Deadspin Hall of Fame Inductee: Clinton Portis.
• Clinton Portis' Miami Hurricanes 2001 National Champions Football Pennant