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Normally, this is time of year when the Washington Redskins reign supreme. Wins might be hard to come by once actual games are played, but the offseason is when the Redskins take center stage.
But a funny thing happened this year. Since the dynamic duo of coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen took over, Redskins Park has become a ghost town. Big name free agents have become an afterthought and the people who follow this team are left to adjust to a new way of life.
Since things have been so quiet, we decided to reach out to our old friend Andre Carter, the defensive end who tied for the team lead with 11 sacks last season, to see how the offseason is treating him and to get his reaction on the sudden inactivity in Ashburn.
Okay, so where are you and how are you?
“I’m back in California,” Carter said. “I was in Virginia for a hot second because my wife and I bought a home in SoCal, so we were there to pack some stuff up. Now we’re out here trying to get situated, so we’re staying pretty busy.”
So basically, you’re saying you want out of D.C. and you no longer want to be a member of the Washington Redskins …
(Laughs.) “Nah, nah, nah, man. I’m still a Redskin,” he said. “Well, I think so.”
That’s one of the reasons we wanted to contact you. It seems like every time we come across an article mentioning your name, the writer is asking if you have a place in the new defense. Are you paying attention to all of this?
“My agent mentioned the article to me earlier,” Carter said. “I don’t think Jason Reid was trying to cause any controversy or anything of that nature. I think, based upon my history of transitioning from a defensive end to a linebacker back in 2005, he knows my work ethic, but at the same time, he knows what I do best. I’m just taking everything in stride. If that’s something the team wants me to do, then I’m going to do it.
I’ll go out and give it my best,” he continued. “Now, will I be the best linebacker? I’ll say this – I’ll be the best linebacker I can be. I know this is a business, but I’m also optimistic. I’ll take on whatever they ask of me and I’m going to be a professional about it. I’m not going to mope around and feel sorry for myself.”
Everyone keeps going back to your time with the San Francisco 49ers when they transitioned to a 3-4 defense and then you ended up leaving in free agency. Can you explain what happened and what that experience was like?
“Sure. They switched to a 3-4 defense and everything, as far as assignments and techniques, was like nothing I had ever been through before playing defensive end,” Carter said. “The scheme they were going for was a lot like the Baltimore Ravens style of defense. When it came to blitzing and things like that, I was lined up on the number-two slot. We would have two people lined up on the outside – myself and a cornerback. So, as I was coming towards the quarterback, the running back would scan out to protect. As a defensive end, I would naturally go in and then cut out or go out and then cut back in. I usually had the option. But now, as a linebacker, I always had to go inside, which was an adjustment.
“Now, I’ve talked with Coach [Jim] Haslett and I understand that this 3-4 scheme is nothing like that Baltimore Ravens scheme and what I experienced in 2005,” he continued. “For me, the most difficult part of that experience was coverage. Back then I had to cover the tight end man to man, and that was an experience. I learned how to do it as the season went on, but man, talk about getting your butt whooped. I’d also there were times when I had to line up on the number-two receivers when they were lined up in the slot. That was different.
“We played a cover-2, so I had to jam him at the line of scrimmage,” Carter said. “You learn little stuff like how to work your hips a certain way, because if I don’t flip them, he’s going to beat me deep. Yeah, there were times I learned that the hard way. (Laughs.) But I never complained and I always put in the work. Towards the end of the year, they switched the scheme up a little and I worked more with the defensive linemen. But that experience was kind of tough because I had been a defensive end my whole life.”
You mentioned you’ve talked with Haslett. How did that conversation go and what did he say as far as his plans for you?
Since the day he took over the Washington Redskins back in 1999 there are two absolute truths that we can say about owner Daniel Snyder.
First, he really wants to win. Like, really, really badly. We don’t think anyone can question that. Simply put, Snyder has never been afraid to outspend the competition in pursuit of this franchise’s fourth Lombardi Trophy.
The other thing we can say about him is that Snyder is absolutely addicted to star appeal. During his decade plus in charge, Snyder has never met a big name he couldn’t envision wearing the burgundy and gold.
We bring this up because Friday is the start of NFL free agency. And this year, like every other year, the biggest names available on the open market will once again be linked to the Redskins.
Free agents looking for a payday love hearing that Snyder’s plane is fueled up and ready to go. Agents dream of receiving a call from Redskins Park at 12:01 a.m. and hearing the following sentence, “Mr. Snyder would like to speak with you about one of your clients.” It’s the worst-kept secret in the NFL today. The Redskins owner has a wad of cash burning a hole in his pocket and, if you play your cards right, he’ll happily make it rain for you.
If you’ve ever been to the Pro Bowl or had a good game against the Redskins (cough*Antwan Randle El*cough) and are no longer wanted by your team, just bat your eyelashes in the general direction of Ashburn, Va., and you could be in line for a minimum deal of five years, $25 million. We would list a dozen or so examples of this, but honestly, we don’t want to crack open the liquor cabinet this early on a Tuesday morning.
So naturally there are reports that the Redskins have their sights set on top free agent prize, defensive end Julius Peppers. It’s no different than a year ago when the big-name player was Albert Haynesworth. If you’re a writer, just put out your Redskins-free agency template and fill in the blanks.
But here’s the thing – it’s not supposed to be this way anymore. The Redskins finally took steps to become a professionally-run organization when they let go of Vinny Cerrato and Jim Zorn in favor of Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan.
Everyone knows that the Redskins have been nothing more than a fantasy football team for a decade or so. But the Allen-Shanahan combo was supposed to kill that trend. No longer would Redskins fans have to settle for “Offseason championships,” followed by a sub-.500 season.
No, we were led to believe that we were now in good hands with folks who know how to win Super Bowls. Long-term vision was supposed to replace the “we’re just one player away” quick-fix mentality. These aren’t supposed to be men who fall for marquee names looking to cash in on what they’ve done, not what they’ll do next.
We hate to say it, but if there’s any truth to the rumors that the ‘Skins are hoping to land Peppers, then it’s safe to say that nothing has changed at Redskins Park. The names calling the shots might be different, but we’re ultimately in for more of the same once football season rolls around again.
Years ago, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was fortunate enough to have lunch with Red Auerbach, the legendary architect and mastermind behind the Boston Celtics.
During this occasion, Leonsis took the opportunity to ask Auerbach for his advice on how to handle star players. This seemed like a wise decision, considering his lunch buddy earned a combined 16 NBA championships as a coach, general manager and team president of the Celtics.
Leonsis must have figured he was in the presence of one of the most successful men in professional sports history, so why not pry for some insider’s knowledge. Fortunately for all of us, Auerbach shared some of his insight.
“He said your best player has to be your best person,” Leonsis said in a Hockey News interview back in October 2008. “He has to be your most respectful person because that will set the tone for the team.
“We’re lucky that Alex is a world-class player, but he’s even a better person – and the fan base knows that,” Leonsis said.
With that quote in mind, we recently had the chance to chat with Capitals general manager George McPhee on how much character and similar attributes come into play when debating whether or not to sign a player to a mega contract.
“Absolutely,” McPhee said. “You want talented players, certainly. But they have to be good people too. People think it’s the talent that puts you over the top, but it’s really the character of your players that puts you over the top.”
Since he was drafted first overall in 2004, Ovechkin has known no boundaries. He’s become the face of the franchise, one of the game’s most gifted players and, most recently, the captain of the Capitals.
“He’s actually better than we could ever have hoped for going into the draft,” McPhee said. “We’re lucky to have him. He’s been a leader since he’s been here. It was time to put the captaincy on him.”
Like McPhee said, the Caps are lucky to have Ovechkin. That’s’ why the team had no problem signing their star player to a 13-year contract extension worth $124 million in 2008. They knew he was a player they could build a team around and jumped at the chance to do so.
That same year, another local franchise made a long-term commitment to a star player. After he opted out of his contract, the Washington Wizards signed guard Gilbert Arenas to a max deal, which came out to six years for $111 million.
At the time, we couldn’t understand why the team would dedicate such an investment into a guy who we often refer to as a “one-legged, me-first point guard.”
For starters, Arenas has played just 47 games during the last three seasons. Thanks to a knee injury that required multiple surgeries and his most recent antics involving hand guns and gambling debts, Arenas is off the court much more often than on it. Excuse the pun, but that’s not getting a lot of bang for your bucks.
And when he’s on the court, you honestly never know which Gilbert is going to show up – whether it be Agent Zero, Hibachi or the guy who can’t hit free throws with the game on the line.
We don’t blame the team’s late owner Abe Pollin or general manager Ernie Grunfeld for being seduced by the game-winning shots and quirky shenanigans. But, at the same time, it seems they turned a blind eye to the moody diva who often times put himself in and removed himself from games without regard for his coach.
He’s also the same player who, if someone hurt his feelings, decided to stage a protest by refusing to shoot the ball or similar “look at me” sideshows. Or spent halftime of NBA games playing online poker. Or decided to ditch the team and rehabilitate his injuries on his own.
Without even going into his latest incident involving illegal firearms and teammate Javaris Crittenton, there’s enough of a history here that the Wizards should have known better. Let’s go back to the conversation between Auerbach and Leonsis.
“Your best player has to be your best person.”
We defy anyone to present an argument in which Arenas comes across as the team’s best person. We’re not suggesting that he’s not a bad person or in the words of John Riggins, that he has a black heart, but the truth is – with Gilbert, it’s all about Gilbert. If you’re looking for a locker room leader who is unselfish and always willing to put the team first, he’s not your man.
Honestly, that would be Wizards forward Antawn Jamison. But at 33 and with his complete inability to play defense, he can’t be considered a long-term solution in D.C. either. So, this may come as a surprise, but what we’re saying is no one currently on the Wizards should be signed to a $100-million deal.
Things are so bad for the Wiz that the one building block they could use as a cornerstone for the franchise – forward Caron Butler – is actually the guy having the hardest time adapting to the Flip Saunders offense. Go figure.
Dark days are ahead for the Wizards, but honestly, most of what comes next is because the team chose to commit to a player like Arenas. People are hoping that somehow the franchise is able to get a “do-over” by voiding his contract, but it’s foolish to get your hopes up. The actions of Ron Artest (fighting fans) and Latrell Sprewell (choking his coach) weren’t enough to get their respective contracts voided. Why would a downtrodden team like the Wizards be any luckier?
One other local team joined the $100-million club last year, when the Washington Redskins signed defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to a seven-year, $100-million deal.
Coming from Tennessee, where he anchored one of the nastiest defenses in football, Haynesworth came to Washington with the highest of hopes. If the Redskins had a top five defense without him, the sky was the limit with Fat Albert, right?
Not so fast, sweetheart.
Haynesworth’s first year in Washington didn’t exactly go as planned. While the defensive line play and sack totals improved with the big guy in the lineup, people mostly wanted to focus on when he wasn’t on the playing field.
Haynesworth missed four games due to injury last season. In the 12 games he was in the lineup though, critics loved to point out how often Haynesworth was either standing on the sidelines or lying on the ground. Whether Fat Albert was hurt or simply faking injury to catch his breath is up to personal interpretation. Either way, it brings us back to basics:
“Your best player has to be your best person.”
Ovechkin is the best goal scorer in hockey, and yet, anyone familiar with the superstar knows he’s just as happy celebrating when a teammate puts the puck in the net. He truly is a team player in every sense of the word.
Haynesworth, on the other hand, prefers to be a loner, with many of his teammates admitting they know very little about him and have almost no communication with him on or off the field.
The only time it was suggested that Haynesworth attempted to bring the team together was when Haynesworth reportedly attempted to get his teammates to stage a protest by showing up late to practice Christmas day when he was unhappy with Greg Blache’s defensive system. This, of course, was reported after Haynesworth went public questioning why the team would even bother to sign him if they weren’t going to use him the way he thought they should.
Basically, the few times he’s bothered to open his mouth, Haynesworth has primarily been concerned with Haynesworth. Yes, he has said positive things about his teammates, but did so during the same conversation he called out his team’s defensive coordinator. Not exactly what you’d want to hear from your “best person,” huh?
We don’t want to speak on behalf of Leonsis or anyone else, but Haynesworth’s action don’t really seem to go with Auerbach’s guidelines. You get the feeling that these leaders would probably sacrifice having a supreme talent like Haynesworth or Arenas around for the good of the team.
No one knows for sure how Leonsis would handle Haynesworth unless Daniel Snyder improbably decides to sell the Redskins and Leonsis swoops in to take over the burgundy and gold. Things get interesting though with the Wizards, a team Uncle Teddy can and will acquire if he wants to. We’ve seen what he’s been able to do with the Capitals, it’ll be even more interesting to see what he can do in his second act should he ultimately decide to take on Arenas and the Wizards.
We have no doubt that if he decides to acquire this town’s beleaguered basketball franchise, he’ll continue to follow the guidance of the great Red Auerbach as he tries to turn the Wizards into something more than a national punchline. Those words of wisdom have helped turn the Capitals into a model franchise in every way. Wizards fans can only hope Leonsis brings their favorite squad more of the same.
And for the love of God, if this article does nothing else, please let it serve as a warning to owners debating whether to sign a player to a $100-million deal. Say it with us:
After a grueling regular season that ended with a disappointing 4-12 record and resulted in a major organizational overhaul, things have (thankfully) quieted down for the Washington Redskins.
Other than players doing exit interviews and, in the case of guys like defensive end Andre Carter, getting surgery after another season worth of bumps and bruises, the only other real news these days involves new head coach Mike Shanahan rounding out the rest of his coaching staff.
Names like Jim Haslett, Kyle Shanahan and Bobby Turner have been added, while coaches like Sherman Smith, Stump Mitchell and Greg Blache will move on to the next chapter in their respective lives.
While Shanahan (the elder) still has a few more decisions to make while finishing his coaching staff here in Washington, one name who appears to be on the outside looking in is Jerry Gray, who has served as the team’s secondary coach since 2006.
After interviewing for the head coaching position and the defensive coordinator gig, Gray landed neither. Now, it is being reported that Gray’s time in D.C. may be coming to an end – with Gray being given permission to interview for a possible job with Pete Carroll, who just took over the Seattle Seahawks.
Let us be perfectly clear – this isn’t a bad thing.
We don’t have anything personal against Gray, but over the last few months he’s become a bit of a lightning rod for controversy. And in all honestly, that’s something the Redskins can do without.
As previously noted, Gray interviewed for the head coaching job of the Redskins. Criticism, from inside and outside of football, mounted when it was learned that he did so while Jim Zorn was still holding the job. Some wondered how a coach could be so disrespectful and, in their words, stab Zorn in the back by not even having the professional courtesy to wait for the job to officially become vacant. Conspiracy theorists concocted a scenario in which Gray knew he wasn’t a viable candidate for the job, but he interviewed as a personal favor to management to help them satisfy the Rooney Rule, which mandates that at least one minority candidate be interviewed.
“You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”
Of course, that was never the case. As we’ve previously written, Gray interviewed for the job for one simple reason – he wants to continue to climb up the coaching ladder. Having already interviewed for the head coaching job at the University of Memphis earlier in the year, Gray jumped at the chance at a possible promotion within his own organization.
Once Blache walked away from his media obligations during the season due to medical reasons, Gray stepped up and assumed those responsibilities. When the Redskins needed him to step up, he did so without a second thought. In his eyes, that showed what kind of team player he is. He had to be thinking: what’s the big deal if I jumped the gun by a couple days and interviewed for a position that everyone knew was going to eventually be available? Does it honestly change anything whether I interview for the job now or three weeks later?
We’re not going to crucify Gray for the timing of the interview. We can completely understand someone who doesn’t plan on working in the same job for the rest of their life, so why hold it against Gray if he was simply trying to advance his career?
Now, that being said, there are two reasons we’d be okay if Gray moved on to another organization.
First of all, one of the top priorities of Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen should be to remove any and all controversy surrounding this franchise. This new regime represents the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. And let’s be honest – when it gets to a point where young players are openly mocking the situation by referring to the area as Drama City, you know you’ve got problems. If turning the franchise around means moving on without Gray, running back Clinton Portis or anyone else, then we’re all for it. The Redskins have had more than enough dysfunction recently.
Our second reason is simple – Gray failed at his job. Think about it; was there a more disappointing unit on the Redskins last season than the secondary? Sure, the offensive line was a joke, but that’s because the front office neglected it. Joe Bugel still did a masterful job of coaching up the substandard group he was handed.
Meanwhile, Gray was given a stack of former first rounders – LaRon Landry, Carlos Rogers, DeAngelo Hall – along with established names like Fred Smoot, Chris Horton and Reed Doughty, and yet, the team was incapable of stopping anyone.
Out of those six names, maybe only Doughty has seen he’s stock rise from a year ago to now. Landry apparently gave up on trying to play safety. Instead he runs around attempting to “hit stick” anybody nearby. Landry and Rogers were so pitiful against any receiver who did a double move, that we openly joked if they trapped us in a dark alley, we know how to get out of there untouched.
Prior to his season-ending toe injury, Horton played well, but he was also benched in the first month of the season for reasons that are unclear. Hall is one of the only players in that secondary who is capable of creating turnovers, but he also gets burnt from time to time and isn’t exactly the best tackler in the league. Both Smoot and Rogers also dealt with limited playing time at various points in the season as the coaching staff attempted to deliver a wakeup call to them for their uneven performances.
When the team added defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and rookie linebacker Brian Orakpo, they made it clear the plan was to disrupt offenses in hopes of getting more sacks and turnovers. Even with Haynesworth in and out of the lineup, the defensive line did a masterful job of creating pressure, as the ‘Skins finished with 40 sacks a year (up from 28 the season prior).
In 2008, the Redskins were tied for 17th in the NFL with 13 interceptions. This season, even with a vastly improved defensive front, the Redskins secondary actually regressed – tying for 27th with 11 picks.
To recap: they got torched for big plays all year long, couldn’t make a stop when the game was on the line, half of the secondary was benched at some point during the season due to ineffectiveness and statistically speaking, they’re moving in the wrong direction. Which part of that comes across as a ringing endorsement for Gray?
So yeah, forgive us for being okay if the team and Gray part ways. We don’t think he’s a bad person and don’t buy into the notion that he acted shady and underhanded. We just don’t think he did a good enough job to warrant any sort of promotion here. If some other team wants to make him their defensive coordinator, it really might be best for everyone involved.
Yesterday Tom Boswell of the Washington Post wrote a column about the state of the D.C. sports scene which he appropriately summarized as “misery loves company.” In it, Boswell addressed the sorry state of the Redskins, Wizards and Nationals.
The article gives reason for cautious optimism with names like Bruce Allen, Mike Shanahan, Mike Rizzo and Jim Riggleman taking over for failures like Vinny Cerrato, Jim Zorn, Jim Bowden and Manny Acta, although admittingly darker days are ahead for the local basketball team. Noticeably absent from the miserable list is the name of the hockey team. The Capitals, who despite falling asleep at the wheel last night, continue to be the only hope for success in the local sports world.
Led by owner Ted Leonsis and general manager George McPhee, the Capitals went from doormat to legitimate championship contender thanks to a lengthy rebuilding plan. Because Leonsis is quite possibly the most fan friendly owner in sports today, he was kind enough to share his plan for that rebuilding phase. We’re posting it here in hopes that it might end up in front of the respective front offices of the Redskins, Wizards and Nationals.
What I have learned about a rebuild to date: A 10 point plan. A Washington Capitals perspective:
1. Ask yourself the big question: “Can this team – as constructed – ever win a championship?” If the answer is yes, stay the course and try to find the right formula. If the answer is no, then plan to rebuild. Don’t fake it. Really do the analytics and be brutally honest. Once you have your answer, develop the game plan to try to really win a championship. Always run away from experts that say, “We are just one player away.” Recognize there is no easy and fast systemic fix. It will be a bumpy ride. Have confidence in the plan. Trust and verify: the progress – but don’t deviate from the plan.
2. Once you make the decision to rebuild, be transparent. Articulate the plan and sell it loudly and proudly to all constituencies, the media, the organization, the fans, your partners, family and anyone who will listen. Agree to what makes for a successful rebuild. In our case it is “a great young team with upside that can make the playoffs for a decade and win a Stanley Cup or two.”
3. Once you decide to rebuild bring the house down to the foundation. Be consistent with your plan and with your asks. We always sought to get “a pick and a prospect” in all of our trades. We believed that volume would yield better results than precision. We decided to trade multiple stars at their prime or peak to get a large volume of young players. Young players will get better as they age, so you have built in upside. Youngsters push vets to play better to keep their jobs, and they stay healthier, and they are more fun – less jaded by pro sports.
4. Commit to building around the draft. Invest in scouting, development, and a system. Articulate that system and stay with it so that all players feel comfortable – know the language – know what is expected of them – read the Oriole Way. It worked and it is a great tutorial. Draft players that fit the system, not the best player. Draft the best player for the system. Don’t deviate or get seduced by agents, media demands, or by just stats or hype. Envision how this player will slide into your system.
5. Be patient with young players – throw them in the pool to see if they can swim. Believe in them. Show them loyalty. Re-sign the best young players to long term high priced deals. Show the players you are very loyal to them as compared to free agents who achieved highly for another team. Teach them. Celebrate their successes. Use failures as a way to teach and improve. Coaches must be tough but kind to build confidence.
6. Make sure the GM, coach, owner and business folks are on the exact same page as to deliverables, metrics of success, ultimate goal, process and measured outcomes. Always meet to discuss analytics and don’t be afraid of the truth that the numbers reveal. Manage to outcomes. Manage to let the GM and coach NOT be afraid of taking risks, and make sure there are no surprises. Over communicate. Act like an ethnic family – battle around the dinner table – never in public. Be tight as a team. Protect and enhance each other. Let the right people do their jobs.
7. No jerks allowed. Implement a no jerk policy. Draft and develop and keep high character people. Team chemistry is vital to success. Make sure the best and highest paid players are coachable, show respect to the system, want to be in the city, love to welcome new, young players to the team, have respect for the fan base, show joy in their occupation, get the system, believe in the coaches, have fun in practice, and want to be gym rats. Dump quickly distractions. Life is too short to drink bad wine.
8. Add veterans to the team via shorter term deals as free agents. Signing long-term, expensive deals for vets is very risky. We try to add vets to the mix for two year or three year deals. They fill in around our young core. They are very important for leadership, but they must complement the young core (NOT try to overtake them or be paid more than them). Identify and protect the core. Add veterans to complement them, not visa versa.
9. Measure and improve. Have shared metrics – know what the progress is and where it ranks on the timeline – be honest in all appraisals; don’t be afraid to trade young assets for other draft picks to build back end backlog – know the aging of contracts – protect “optionality” to make trades at deadlines or in off season; never get in cap jail. Having dry powder is very important to make needed moves.
10. Never settle – never rest – keep on improving. Around the edges to the plan, have monthly, quarterly and annual check ups. Refresh the plan when needed but for the right reasons – “how are we doing against our metrics of success and where are we on our path to a championship.” Never listen to bloggers, media, so called experts – to thine own self be true. Enjoy the ride.
This list is especially interesting considering it is widely believed that Leonsis will take over ownership of the Wizards in the not-too-distant future. When we get some time in the next week or so, we’ll try to take a good, hard look at the Wiz and this plan and see what we can come up with. Until then, we should all continue to give thanks for having Leonsis and the Caps in our life.
Thanks to a fantasy football minded front office, the careers of quarterbacks Jason Campbell and Mark Sanchez will forever be linked in the minds of Washington Redskins fans. That’s what happens when Vinny Cerrato and Daniel Snyder try to dump Campbell for a chance to select the rookie out of USC.
But it occurred to us this past weekend while watching the New York Jets take on the Cincinnati Bengals that there is a better comparison to make than Campbell and Sanchez. And truth be told, it might surprise you.
Since his arrival in the NFL, Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis has been viewed as one of the league’s elite players. Conversely, Thomas Jones has not. While Portis has spent the better part of the last decade stealing headlines on and off the field, Jones has resided further away from the spotlight. However, if you take the time to break down their statistics, what you’ll find is that they’re essentially the same player.
In six seasons with the Redskins, Portis has 1,613 carries for 6,597 yards with 44 touchdowns in 79 games played, which averages out to 4.08 yards per carry and 83 yards per game. ‘Skins fans should remember that Portis missed half of the 2006 and 2009 seasons due to injury.
Over the last five seasons, Jones has played 79 regular season games. Splitting time between the Chicago Bears and the Jets, Jones has 1,541 carries for 6,378 yards with 43 touchdowns, which averages out to 4.13 yards per carry and 80 yards per game.
Portis has rushed for at least 100 yards 26 times during his time in Washington. And it should be noted that the Redskins are 37-42 with him in the lineup.
Jones has reached the century mark 25 times over the last five seasons, with his teams going 45-34 with him in the lineup. While it would be shortsighted to suggest that Portis and Jones were the only two players responsible for the success of their individual teams, we figured it was worth pointing out the wins and losses (you know, since that’s the point of the games in the first place).
Now, remember that upon his arrival before the 2004 season, Portis immediately penned his name to an eight-year, $50.5 million contract, which, at the time, made him the highest-paid running back in the NFL. The deal contained roughly $17 million in bonuses.
Jones, on the other hand, signed a much more reasonable contract in 2007 – a four-year, $20 million deal with $12 million guaranteed.
And because the Redskins are routinely near the salary cap ceiling, the team has restructured Portis’ deal on multiple occasions. Most recently, the team redid his contract in 2008 to free up wiggle room for free agency. In the process, the Redskins guaranteed his salary for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, which is roughly $15 million.
Jones received a base salary of $900,000 in 2009 (along with a $100,000 workout bonus), and is scheduled to take home $2.8 million (with another $100,000 workout and a $3 million roster bonus) in the final year of his contract.
Portis heads into the 2010 season hoping to bounce back from the first serious concussion of his career. It should also be noted that within the last week he’s been the target of criticism from his teammates, as well as his coaches, who are tired of him running his mouth and not giving his best effort.
After hearing Portis take shots at him on his weekly radio segment, Campbell fired back at his running back. Other Redskins players then came to Campbell’s defense, also questioning Portis’ practice habits and wondering aloud whether or not the rumors are true in regards to Portis going over the head of Jim Zorn and running to the owner when he doesn’t get his way. And then yesterday, former running backs coach Stump Mitchell had this to say of Portis:
“He’s a headstrong individual,” Mitchell said. “He can go out and get it done and sometimes he will, but he wasn’t getting the most out of his ability this past season because he did not prepare as well as I think he should have.”
Mitchell, who is moving on to become the head coach of Southern University, went on to say that Portis “isn’t the guy he used to be.”
Okay, let’s see if we’ve got this straight. Portis has lost a step and is no longer the player he used to be, has questionable practice habits, regularly says something dumb and/or throws his teammates under the bus on a weekly radio show. Did we leave anything out?
Jones, meanwhile, has finished in the top five in rushing yards and touchdowns each of the last two seasons. His two-year totals are 2,714 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns over that span. In fact, over the last five years, he’s finished third, fifth, 10th, 11th and ninth in the NFL in rushing. He might not get much attention, but he’s as reliable as they come.
Even though he’s three years older than Portis, Jones at 31 years old has still only missed one game in the last five seasons – and that was back in 2005. And most importantly, you don’t hear his teammates and coaches saying anything negative about him.
In summary, Portis has exactly one more rushing touchdown and has averaged just three more yards per game than Jones over the last 79 games. Ignore the fact that Jones played his 79 games in just five seasons, as opposed to Portis, who took six years.
Forget that anyone at Redskins Park who is willing to go public about Portis these days seemingly has nothing positive to say about the man. No, just look at how much the team continues to overpay the diva running back ($15 million guaranteed for this season and next). For half the cost and a fraction of the drama, the team could have a guy like Jones, who simply shows up for work and does whatever is needed to help his team win.
The hiring of Mike Shanahan represents a chance for a fresh start in Ashburn. If they’re wise, the Redskins’ front office will take a good, hard look at whether or not Portis is worth the money and distractions, and in the end, head into the 2010 season with someone else lined up in the backfield on opening day.
Okay, so we posted an article first-thing Wednesday morning in which members of the Washington Redskins sounded off on running back Clinton Portis after growing tired of his constant need for attention.
Well, we had no clue how big it would become. It got picked up by the great Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. It was also picked up by ESPN’s insider service, which was amusing because it meant that because we don’t have a paid account, we couldn’t see the link to our own work. Then the story was linked on ProFootballTalk.com, which was funny because we ripped them earlier this week in our Joe Gibbs writeup.
But the kicker was when we were informed that because of the Portis story, we were voted the ’site of the day’ for a show on ESPN2 called SportsNation. You can see a video of our moment in the spotlight above. If we’re being completely honest, this clip is awesome for one simple reason – Colin Cowherd is nowhere to be found (well, that and the fact that they said we have a totally “awesome name”).
The blowhard/attention whore who is usually the host of SportsNation must have been out Wednesday, because that’s definitely not him in the clip. The only rational explaination seems to be that this the closest thing to a perfect day we’ll ever see, so somebody must have done us a favor and kept the guy from ruining a very memorable occasion.
Most importantly, thanks to all of you who continue to support the site. It’s come a long way since day one, and hopefully will continue to grow and evolve as we search for the best way to bring fellow D.C. sports fans information on the teams we all know and love.
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