Tag: Clinton Portis

Former Pro Bowl RB says Dolphins RBs are among his favorites to watch

De’Von Achane gets a shoutout from one of the best RBs of the 2000s.

Through eight games, the Miami Dolphins backfield has been arguably the most successful in the league.

They lead the league in yards per carry (5.9) and rushing yards per game (151.8) while their lead back, Raheem Mostert, has recorded the most rushing touchdowns so far this year (10).

Rookie sensation De’Von Achane, in essentially just three games, took the NFL by storm, totaling 527 yards and seven touchdowns on 47 total touches.

These efforts have warranted attention by not just those around the league, but some of the best that it had to offer in previous generations.

Appearing on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take,” former Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis listed the Dolphins backfield, and Achane specifically, as some of his favorites to watch in the game today.

“It’s hard not to say Christian McCaffrey because I know the system that he’s in, but I think those backs in Miami,” Portis said. “That kid Achane, when he comes back, that separates Miami. That gives them another dimension. I like guys like that. I like guys who can hit the home run from anywhere… I love the young guy, the explosive guy, who can take it the distance from anywhere.”

Achane has been on injured reserve for three games and can officially return after Miami’s Week 10 bye, and if the offensive line has three or four of their starters back, the run game should flourish for Mike McDaniel’s team.

It’s amazing to see what a 31-year-old back, who many had written off due to past injuries, and a rookie can do in McDaniel’s offense.

LOOK: Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis together ahead Commanders’ Week 1 game

Champ Bailey and Clinton Portis are forever linked to one another.

Clinton Portis and Champ Bailey will be forever linked to one another. In 2004, the then-Washington Redskins traded Bailey and a second-round pick to the Denver Broncos for Portis.

The trade worked out for both teams, as Bailey would continue making Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While Portis isn’t in the Hall of Fame, he spent seven years with Washington, rushing for 6,824 yards and 46 touchdowns.

Portis has remained close to the franchise throughout the years, working in the media for the team and is often a guest on local radio. But Bailey remained estranged from the franchise that selected him No. 7 overall in 1999.

Until now.

The Commanders announced last week that Bailey would be Washington’s “Legend of the Game” and honorary captain for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Before Sunday’s Week 1 game, Bailey and Portis took time for a photo together.

Even more, the pair rode to FedEx Field together Sunday morning, per Ben Standig of The Athletic.

It’s officially a new era of Washington football.

Champ Bailey returns to Washington, will serve as Commanders’ honorary captain for Week 1

Champ Bailey is the latest former Washington player to return to the franchise.

Another Washington legend is returning to the fold for the Commanders’ Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Via John Keim of ESPN, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey will be honored as the franchise’s Legend of the Game and also serve as an honorary captain.

“Now, for several reasons, it feels like the perfect time to show up and become part of the franchise again,” Bailey said. “I’ve been wanting this for years. Timing is everything.”

Bailey was the No. 7 overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft by former general manager Charley Casserly. After five outstanding seasons in Washington, the team traded Bailey — and a second-round pick — to the Denver Broncos for running back Clinton Portis. Bailey would spend 10 seasons with the Broncos and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Portis would go on to have an excellent career for Washington, but Bailey would become one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. Bailey was in a contract dispute with Washington in 2003 at the time of his trade.

During his time in Washington, Bailey was named a second-team All-Pro twice and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times.

Bailey hasn’t been back at FedEx Field since 2009, when he returned for a game while with the Broncos. Bailey has been critical of the organization — mainly former owner Dan Snyder — over the years. But since Snyder sold the organization in July, new owner Josh Harris and his partners have worked hard to repair relationships with the fan base and former players.

Former Washington running back Tim Hightower, the franchise’s director of alumni relations, has worked hard to bring back several of the franchise’s legends, including Bailey. However, former ownership complicated matters, specifically Bailey.

Bailey is the latest former player to return for Sunday’s game, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame running back John Riggins and former NFL offensive rookie of the year Robert Griffin III.

 

Albert Haynesworth trashes former Washington players, defends Dan Snyder

Unbelievable.

When you thought you’d never hear the name Albert Haynesworth associated with the Washington NFL franchise again, he opens his mouth.

OutKick posted an interview this week where Clay Travis interviews Haynesworth — who last played for Washington in 2010 — and asks him about his time in Washington, specifically playing for former owner Daniel Snyder, who foolishly gave Haynesworth a seven-year, $100 million contract.

That contract will forever be remembered as one of the worst in NFL history.

Not surprisingly, Haynesworth defends Snyder, calling him “super cool, and “not an a-hole.” Haynesworth said he would talk to Snyder at least once a week, and they were “super close.” Haynesworth likened Snyder to a “billionaire fantasy football,” who loved the Redskins but didn’t know a lot about football.

Let’s quickly review Haynesworth’s two-year stint in Washington. He played for two different coaching staffs, causing problems for each, complaining about the defensive schemes. Jim Zorn didn’t have the clout to stand up to Haynesworth — Mike Shanahan did.

And Shanahan became a hero to Washington fans by ridding the franchise of Haynesworth two seasons into that ridiculous contract. Washington traded Haynesworth to the New England Patriots in the summer of 2011 for a fifth-round pick.

He lasted four months in New England.

If Haynesworth’s comments about Snyder weren’t enough to enrage Washington fans, it was his comments about three former standout players: Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, running back Clinton Portis and tight end Chris Cooley.

He called all three former players “a joke” and said that they represented what “that team represented back then,” which was “trash.” He reiterated the trash statement again before the interview ended.

Hall, Portis and Cooley were some of Washington’s best players, along with Santana Moss, Sean Taylor, Chris Samuels, Trent Williams and Ryan Kerrigan over the last 20 years of Snyder’s ownership, and popular with fans.

You almost have to ask yourself, did this really happen?

Yes, it did.

We’ll leave you with Al Galdi’s response to Haynesworth, which is how every Washington fan “fondly” remembers him.

 

‘Commanders are one of 14 NFL teams to not….’

It’s been a while.

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Warren Sharp took a moment Sunday evening to educate his readers that 14 NFL teams have not won a playoff game in the last five seasons.

I immediately thought, “Five years? Why stop there, Warren?”

Well, technically Sharp didn’t. He did actually say “5+ years.”

Commanders fans were already quite aware of this discouraging and frustrating NFL reality. You see, we are all too aware that this NFL franchise has not won a playoff game in well over five years.

Hey Warren, try 18 NFL seasons without a team playoff win!

That’s right, Washington NFL fans have not enjoyed a playoff win since Joe Gibbs 2.0 came out of NFL retirement because he loved the franchise so much he wanted to bring it back some respect.

Gregg Williams was the defensive coordinator, Don Breaux was the offensive coordinator, and Joe Bugel was the offensive line coach.

Quarterback Patrick Ramsey started the season opener, and Mark Brunell the other 15 games. Clinton Portis gained 1,516 yards rushing, including 11 touchdowns.

Santana Moss gained 1,483 receiving yards on 84 receptions (17.7 yards per reception) and 9 receiving touchdowns. Chris Cooley generated 774 receiving yards on 71 receptions and 7 touchdowns.

Ladell Betts returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. Antonio Brown returned one 91 yards for a touchdown. No, not that “Antonio Brown.”

John Hall and Nick Novak connected on 17 of 21 field goals and all 42 extra-point attempts.

Remember linebacker Lemar Marshall?

He led the team in tackles (101) and interceptions (4). Defensive end Phillip Daniels led with 8.0 quarterback sacks. He and linebacker Marcus Washington each led with 11 tackles for a loss.

What a year that secondary had, getting their hands on balls. Safety Sean Taylor led with 12 passes defended, and corners Walt Harris and Shawn Springs collected 11 and 10, respectively.

In fact, the defense was most responsible for the last playoff win in franchise history those 18 seasons ago, when Washington went down to Tampa and beat the Bucs 17-10.

Brunell was injured and unable to pass effectively, but Coach Joe was not putting Ramsey out there against the Bucs defense. The Washington offense totaled only 120 yards. But they won the turnover battle 3-1, including a Sean Taylor 51-yard fumble recovery touchdown run.

And so it was 18 NFL seasons ago when the Washington NFL team was the “Redskins,” and they last won a playoff game.

 

You can follow Ivan Lambert on Twitter @IvanLambert18 and Commanders Wire @Washington_Wire

WATCH: Clinton Portis, Ray Brown speak to Commanders at OTAS

The pair spoke to the team Wednesday.

It was a beautiful day Wednesday at Commanders Park in Ashburn for the second day of this week’s OTAs. The Commanders were on the practice field, getting in some action, while the team hosted multiple visitors.

One of the greatest running backs in franchise history, Clinton Portis, was at practice Wednesday and took time to speak to Washington’s running backs.

Portis played seven years in Washington and is second in franchise history in rushing yards, only behind Pro Football Hall of Famer John Riggins. Portis is one of Washington’s most popular players from the Daniel Snyder era.

Portis wasn’t the only former Washington player at practice Wednesday. Ray Brown, who remarkably played 20 years in the NFL as an offensive lineman, spent two stints with the then-Redskins, a total of nine of his 20 NFL seasons. After retirement, Brown jumped into coaching and spent seven seasons as an assistant under current head coach Ron Rivera in Carolina.

Brown spoke to the entire team, reminding them that success during the season begins now, in the offseason. And that he — and former Washington players — are rooting for them.

Brown, 60, looks like he could still line up at left tackle for the Commanders.

Commanders announce new preseason TV broadcasting trio

Two former players and a popular local broadcaster will call Washington’s preseason games in 2023.

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The Washington Commanders announced not only the pending sale of the team but a new broadcast team for the Commanders’ preseason games in 2023.

The new team will consist of Chick Hernandez, Brian Mitchell and Logan Paulsen. Hernandez will carry the play-by-play announcer duties with Mitchell and Paulsen providing analysis.

Hernandez has done play-by-play in the past during the preseason. He was once teamed with Joe Theismann as the analyst and former Washington running back Clinton Portis was on the sidelines.

No doubt, many Commanders fans will be glad to have Hernandez back in the fold. He is a local native; he is a diehard, and he exhibits passion and pleasure regarding the team. Perhaps most importantly, he has demonstrated his enthusiasm for the team for decades.

“I know Chick will be good at this and he and Brian Mitchell have a really good rapport, having worked together for years. Brian is now available with the NBCSW deal going away. Logan will be basically a second analyst from the sideline vs. just a reporter. He’s just too smart,” Julie Donaldson, Commanders senior vice president of media and content, told Commanders Wire.

It is my hope that both Paulsen and Mitchell will be able to continue to be objective and possess the freedom to not only praise the team when it is due but also offer honest criticism when it is also due. Both are no doubt, quite capable.

Most recently, the preseason broadcasts for the Commanders games were the 2022 trio of Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Rick “Doc” Walker (color commentator) and Paulsen (sideline reporter).

2023 basketball Final Four: Washington Commanders edition

The Final Four is here. Who are the best former Washington players representing each of the four schools?

Who are the best Washington football players to play for the 2023 Men’s Final Four universities?

The four colleges who qualified for next weekend’s NCAA Final Four Basketball tournament are Florida Atlantic University, the University of Connecticut, San Diego State University and the University of Miami.

If you can only select one current or former Washington football player from each of the four schools, which one would you choose?

 

 

 

Clinton Portis says Redskins should draft Isaiah Simmons at No. 2, not Chase Young

Many believe the Redskins will either pick Young or trade the No. 2 pick, but Clinton Portis thinks they should do neither.

April is finally here, which can only mean one thing — the NFL Draft is fast approaching.

The Washington Redskins have the No. 2 overall pick, and a massive decision that comes with it. The obvious answer is drafting Ohio State’s defensive end Chase Young — a generational talent who could be the best player to come out of the draft in years. On the other hand, they could trade the pick away to someone who wants to snag QB Tua Tagovailoa, giving them multiple first- and second-round picks in return. This would then likely allow the Redskins to draft Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons — an incredibly impressive prospect — should they avoid trading down too far.

It’s a decision that will have a significant impact on the future in Washington, and you can argue both sides of the coin. Former Redskins running back Clinton Portis has his mind made up, and he tends to go against the grain with Washington faithful on this one.

“I’m taking my chances with Isaiah Simmons,” Portis said on The Team 980 Tuesday morning. “I would have to, I would take Simmons at number 2.”

Wait, what? So instead of drafting Chase, instead of trading the pick, Portis thinks Washington should just go ahead and draft Simmons with the No. 2 pick? That’s an outcome I hadn’t heard before. Not only is Young the undisputed best player in the draft, only falling to No. 2 thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals’ desire to draft QB Joe Burrow at No. 1. On top of that, it’s extremely possible that Simmons will be around for Washington to take with the No. 5 pick, should they trade with someone like the Miami Dolphins.

The Redskins would surely get loads of flack from the sporting world at large, as they pass up a potential future-Hall-of-Famer in the first round. After getting the Bruce Allen monkey off of their backs, Redskins fans would once again be the butt of the joke. I don’t see this playing out, but anything can happen in April.

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Melvin Gordon joins tradition of great Denver Broncos running backs

Melvin Gordon has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos, stepping into a backfield that has a great history.

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Melvin Gordon has switched his allegiance from the Los Angeles Chargers to the Denver Broncos. Going from one AFC West team to another means he will face the Bolts twice a season. It also means he joins a team that has had many running backs who have had 1,000-yard seasons. A high bar for Gordon, who has one 1,000-yard season to his credit, to maintain.

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