Redskins' Portis rips Zorn's decision to bench him

[555666]

Redskins running back Clinton Portis, upset about being benched during Sunday's loss to the Ravens, had some interesting words for rookie head coach Jim Zorn on The John Thompson Show today in D.C. From the D.C. Sports Bog (via ProFootballTalk.com):

Clinton Portis unloaded on Jim Zorn during today's John Thompson Show appearance, over and over again. He swore, he suggested maybe he should go on the injured reserve, he offered to become a cheerleader, and he said this, when asked what adjustments should be made.

"We got a genius for a head coach, I don't know, I'm sure he on top of things. He's got everything figured out. Hey, that's up to him. All I can do is when he calls a play is go out and try to execute to the best of my ability."

And then later, on the big picture, he had this to say:

"Maybe I'm the problem. Maybe I'm the problem, since I don't practice, since I'm the only person that don't practice and come out and give it what I've got, maybe I'm the problem, so I might need to be on IR."

Zorn's response, an hour later, to Portis claiming he was benched?

"Well, any time you don't go in, that's the way you feel," Zorn said. "And he is a big part of our offense and he's sitting on the bench, he's got to feel like he's benched, I don't blame him for that."

 

[joeywatson15]

there was more to this story.. but u got most of it..

Zorn said Monday he did not use Portis for most of the second half against the Ravens because Portis' lack of practice time had finally caught up to the running back. The coach said Portis had stayed in to block too long instead of going out for a pass on some occasions in the first half.

Zorn went instead with backup Ladell Betts, whom the coach felt was in better position to handle the pass plays that quarterback Jason Campbell and the Redskins were attempting with a two-touchdown deficit.

Portis begged to differ with the coach's assessment.

"Jason on his ass all game long, you try to stay in and help, then it's 'Aw, you should have gone out. ... If he's over there and can't breathe and unconscious where he done got the wind knocked out of him from being sacked, then it's 'Aw you got to help out, you've got to chip,"' Portis said. "So I don't think they know what they want me to do."

Portis also denied that his lack of practice time was affecting his performance. He said he had not missed a meeting and attended every practice, even though he was unable to suit up. He noted that his inability to practice wasn't an issue while the team was playing well.

"Outside of Jim Zorn and the coaches on that team and maybe the quarterbacks, I guarantee you I know our system better than anybody else," Portis said. "I guarantee you when we go into blitz pickup, I don't miss my man. So I don't know what it is. If anybody's got a problem with me, they need to talk to me. I don't know what's going on."

Portis was almost derisive when asked if teams have figured out how to defend Zorn's offense after the team's hot start.

"We got a genius for a head coach, I don't know, so I'm sure he's on top of things," Portis said. "He's got everything figured out. All I can do is when he calls the plays is to try and execute to the best of my ability."




all I know is that they need to find a way to pass block.. Portis was right.. Jason gets knocked on his ass all game long... Every team has pretty much figured out how to beat the redskins now.. all they have to do is blitz a couple different linebackers from side to side every passing down.. It works.. Jim Zorn's Offense has left and it's still back in week 5.. If you don't change it up a little bit ur gonna lose.. plain and simple

 

[Macken]

deep down Zorn is an Adrian Peterson fan and wants him to lead the NFL in Rushing..

 

[A.E]

Portis may be right as far as how Zorn has run the offense as of late...but Portis is dead-ass wrong for taking his criticisms public like he did.

Portis is a veteran and he knows better. You keep comments like that in-house but one thing we know for sure...the media gets a hold of them & it will only hurt your team.