The final decision to make the Redskins our preseason pick to advance to the Super Bowl (which, of course, pissed off every fan of the Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, Packers, Vikings, Bears, Panthers, Falcons, Saints, Seahawks, and Cardinals) was influenced in part by the fact that running back Clinton Portis is fully engaged and ready to play.
There were signs that it wouldn’t be that way at certain points of the offseason. But Clinton likely realized that, if coach Jim Zorn gets run on a rusty rail after the season, the next coach might want to go a lot younger at the position Portis plays.
So now Clinton is on board, and he recently offered up all sorts of sound bites in support of the notion that the team for which he plays will be dangerous this year.
Regarding the team’s offense, here’s what Portis had to say, via Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post: “It’s always been the Redskins gonna come out and play smash mouth, and that’s what it is. But now I think you’re seeing all preseason, we’re throwing the ball downfield. And whether you complete it or not, just the opportunity. . . . If you don’t get back there, it’s gonna be bombs over Baghdad.”
Meanwhile, fantasy owners might want to give serious consideration to second-year wideout Malcolm Kelly.
Yes, Malcolm Kelly. The man who contributed roughly as much to the Redskins’ on-field fortunes last season as, well, me.
“I mean, you can’t cover Malcolm one on one,” Portis said, “and teams gonna realize that real quick in the season. As long as he’s healthy, it’s gonna be impossible to cover him on the deep route one on one. I think his hands [are] unreal.”
Steinberg has the rest of the key points from the Portis pontifications. The tailback’s enthusiam about his team bodes well for the season, and it makes us feel better about our current belief that, when the dust settles on the NFC, Portis will be taking his collection of crazy costumes and colorful sayings to Miami.