Tag: Clinton Portis

‘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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Chase Young talks love for Sean Taylor; relationship with Dwayne Haskins at combine

Chase Young talked Thursday about his love for Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis, while revealing he talks with Dwayne Haskins all the time.

If you are good at reading between the lines, then you might have come away with one key takeaway from Chase Young’s media session on Thursday — the OSU pass-rusher wants to play for the Redskins.

He didn’t out-right say it, but he said enough.

When asked on Thursday morning about his potential draft position, and if he had thought at all about where he would like to play in the NFL, Young went with the chalk answer, saying that he will play wherever he is asked to play. He also mentioned that the Redskins potential meeting with Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow doesn’t worry him. He knows that the Redskins want him, and he seemingly wants them, a familiar team from his childhood growing up in the D.C. area.

Young added that his favorite players to wear the burgundy and gold were Sean Taylor and Clinton Portis, which feels fitting. He also mentioned that he has been in constant contact with Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins, who was his college teammate at Ohio State.

“Me and Dwayne, we talk all the time,” Young said, via NBC Sports Washington. “I’ve known Dwayne since high school. He definitely loves the organization and obviously, he wants me to come play with him. I just think we’ll see how this whole thing turns out.”

Even if this were a recruiting trip, and Young got to choose which NFL team he wished to play for, you might get a feeling that he would consider the Redskins. When you factor in that Washington can have him if they want him, and they seemingly want him, this should cool a lot of doubts for Washington fans.

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Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay makes NFL history with 1,000-yard season

Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay is the first undrafted player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.

Last year, Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay made NFL history by becoming the first undrafted rookie to earn a Pro Bowl berth. Lindsay earned the All-Star nod after totaling 1,278 yards from scrimmage and scoring 10 touchdowns.

Lindsay made more history against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Lindsay went into the game needing 42 yards for a second-consecutive 1,000-yard season. Lindsay surpassed 50 rushing yards in the fourth quarter, breaking the century mark for the second time in his career.

Lindsay became the first undrafted player in league history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. Lindsay is also Denver’s first running back to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Clinton Portis (2002-03).

The Broncos signed Lindsay as a college free agent out of Colorado following last year’s draft. He quickly won the team’s starting job and has been one of the team’s best offensive players over the last two seasons.

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Clinton Portis surrenders in NFL healthcare fraud case

Clinton Portis self-surrendered to authorities.

Former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis surrendered to authorities in North Carolina after being charged alongside more than 10 others in an alleged attempt to defraud the NFL’s retired players healthcare program.

The United States Department of Justice confirmed the development in the case, per Fox 5 DC.

Portis is one of 12 former NFL players charged in the case, which alleges players used fraudulent claims to the program.

Portis last played in the NFL in 2010 and earned north of $43 million over the course of his career. Back in 2017, a profile detailed how he fell into debt after his playing career.

Joe Bruno of WSOC added more detail to the current case:

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Former Eagles RB among ex-NFL players accused of defrauding league’s health program

Former Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter charged in health care fraud indictments

In a move that’s certain to put further strain on the relationship between players and the league, former Philadelphia Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter is among 10 retired NFL players charged with defrauding the league’s retiree health care benefits plan, according to ESPN.com via indictments.

Buckhalter, 41, along with other former players, allegedly sought reimbursements for expensive equipment that they never purchased. The grievance comes from the players using the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan to obtain these tax-free reimbursements for out-of-pocket medical care expenses.

“As a result of the fraud, more than $3.9 million in phony claims were submitted to the Plan, and the Plan paid out approximately $3.4 million on those claims between mid-2017 and mid-2018,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski, of the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The equipment purchased in the fraudulent claims, included hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ultrasound machines and electromagnetic therapy devices designed for use on horses, according to prosecutors.

The refund was typically in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 each, Investigators said using fake invoices from medical supply companies along with forged letters and prescriptions from medical care providers.

The players named in the indictment include:

Clinton Portis
Robert McCune
John Eubanks
Tamarick Vanover
Ceandris “C.C.” Brown
James Butler
Fredrick Bennett
Etric Pruitt
Carlos Rogers
Correll Buckhalter

Additional charges are expected to be filed against former Saints receiver Joe Horn and former NFL receiver Reche Caldwell.

Buckhalter was a fourth-round selection of the Eagles back in 2001 and spent 8 seasons with the team.