Tag: Jason Campbell 2006-2009

Clinton Portis outspoken on his time in Washington

He is still not a fan of Jim Zorn. And who was his favorite QB?

Clinton Portis was a beast of a running back.

Portis, a Redskins running back for seven seasons, started 83 of his 84 games and rushed for 6,824 yards, including 46 rushing touchdowns and 345 rushing first downs.

Portis was a more than capable receiver out of the backfield, catching 176 receptions for 1,340 yards (7.6). Even more noticeable was the spirit and intensity with which Portis was a blocker in the passing game. He was truly an all-around, dependable, and fierce NFL running back.

Portis appeared on the “Grant and Danny” show (106.7 The Fan) Thursday and made some striking remarks reminiscing on his playing days with the Redskins (2004-2010).

Portis said in Washington, he had five offensive coordinators in his seven seasons, who all wanted to do something different. That’s understandable, as Portis did have four offensive coordinators (Don Breaux, Al Saunders, Sherman Smith and Kyle Shanahan).

But Portis then claimed he “might have played for nine or ten quarterbacks.”  Actually it was only six (Patrick Ramsey, Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell, Todd Collins, Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman).

The former Washington running back said, “I left the DMV so upset because I felt like for years I was the savior, and I turned into the problem. That left a bitter taste in my mouth before I came back to broadcast, where I fell in love with the city.”

When Grant Paulsen asked Portis who his favorite Washington quarterback to play with was, Portis actually had no answer, pausing and then saying, “That’s crazy.”

Paulsen then supplied him with names of quarterbacks, to which Portis replied, “But I think Donovan (McNabb) had something going on. It was different. He was at the end.”

Indeed, McNabb did have some career lows that 2009 season in Washington, as his TD rate and QBR were his lowest, and his interception rate was his highest. He was traded after only one season to Minnesota and released during his lone season with the Vikings, never playing again.

Back to Portis’ favorite quarterback in Washington. He asked who they got from Kansas City. Grant Paulsen had to provide Portis with the name: Todd Collins. Portis then said Collins was his favorite. How strange is it that Collins was his favorite, yet he didn’t remember his name?

Portis then strangely blamed the coaches for Jason Campbell’s play, saying they told him where to throw it and then blamed Campbell. When pressed which coach, Portis quickly responded, “Of course, I am not talking about Gibbs. I love Coach Gibbs, I love Coach Shanahan.”

Again, on Campbell, “Jason didn’t have that fair chance to go out and be a ball player,” added Portis. However, many fans might recall Campbell often did successfully move the Redskins up and down the field, only to then struggle often inside the red zone.

Following his four seasons with the Redskins, Campbell continued to have his struggles, never catching on nor finding success in any of his other NFL stops with the Raiders, Bears, Browns, and Bengals.

Not to be overlooked is Portis rushed for an amazing 1,508 and 1,591 in his first two seasons in the NFL in Denver, rushing for 29 touchdowns and leading the NFL by averaging 5.5 yards a rushing attempt. Portis was a stud, no doubt.

Commanders season opener in 17 days: Washington’s best No. 17

17 days until Week 1 and some impressive players have worn the No. 17, including a current star.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 17 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 17?

Doug Willliams (1986-89) had been drafted with the endorsement of Joe Gibbs in Tampa Bay. Ten years later, this resulted in Gibbs bringing Williams to Washington for the last four seasons of his football career. In his four Washington seasons, the team was good, yet was only 5-9 in games Williams started. His passer rating of 79.1, completion percentage of 55.9 and touchdown/interception ratio of 27:20 are all less than stellar. But Williams was HUGE in Super Bowl XXII when his 18 completions totaled 340 yards and four passing touchdowns! He was thus voted Super Bowl game MVP. Williams was great on his biggest stage, and for that, he is always remembered and appreciated by fans and media.

Jason Campbell (2005-09), in his five Washington seasons, completed 1,002 passes (61.2%)  for 10,860 yards and 55 touchdowns (38 interceptions). His passer rating of 82.3 was not bad, but the team was 20-32 in games Campbell started. Washington traded up to take Campbell 25th in the 2005 draft, one selection following Green Bay choosing Aaron Rodgers.

Terry McLaurin (2019- current) was drafted No. 76 overall in the 2019 draft. An immediate starter, McLaurin showed himself to be vastly underrated. In his four Washington seasons, McLaurin has made 299 receptions for 4,281 yards (14.3 per reception), 21 touchdown receptions and 197 first downs. If McLaurin can continue his current pace for even a few more seasons, he will become the player who accomplished the most in franchise history wearing No. 17.

Billy Kilmer (1971-78) was a game-manager quarterback who though he had his struggles came through often in close games for Washington. Kilmer led the NFL in both 1975 and 1976 with four game-winning drives. In 1976, he also led the NFL with three fourth-quarter comebacks. In 1975 he completed the NFL’s longest pass of the season, a 96-yard touchdown to Frank Grant. He quarterbacked the 1972 team to the NFC Championship and Super Bowl VII, leading the NFL with 19 touchdown passes. In those 1972 NFC playoff wins over Green Bay and Dallas, Kilmer passed for three touchdowns without an interception. Kilmer was 50-23-1 in games he started for Washington. Back when only four teams qualified for the playoffs, Kilmer led the Redskins to the playoffs in 1971-74 and 1976.