Former Redskins running back Clinton Portis never fails to make it interesting.
The eccentric Portis (who used to show up for interviews in characters such as Coach Janky Spanky, Southeast Jerome and Sheriff Gonna Getcha) recently turned up on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., and the conversation was about as far-ranging as you might imagine.
Portis joined Holden Kushner and Danny Rouhier (transcript via SportsRadioInterviews.com) to discuss everything from his future plans and current political affiliations.
Asked about a potential comeback, Portis said: “If things happen then cool, if not, that’s cool too.”
Of showing up at a fund-raiser for and supporting Vice President Joe Biden, Portis said: “It took longer than four years to mess the country up, so it’s not gonna be put back together and everybody’s not gonna get a job in four years.”
But his most interesting comments may have been a lengthy defense of Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who has become a lightning rod for his stewardship of a sagging franchise.
“I think so many people got the wrong idea about Mr. Snyder,” Portis said. “I think he’s a guy that is so dedicated to that Redskins organization and wants to badly to bring a championship to town and get the town what they want, and give Redskin Nation what they want, that a lot of people get aggravated with the change.
“I think he’s willing to go out and do anything and everything that needs to be done to make that organization better. And so many people criticize that. There’s a lot of owners that won’t go out and put a dime into the organization, won’t bring players in, won’t pay players … and their fans are upset.
“So I think Mr. Snyder does all that he can and is really just a man that has the desire to win and he wants to win at any cost. I think he’s doing everything he could to make the organization better, and the people within the organization — as far as the players — love him. I think he’s a great guy. … He’s still trying to find the pieces to the puzzle to get it on the positive side, and you have to applaud it.”
That’s one way of looking at it. Perhaps another is that Snyder has tried to do too much, constantly fiddling with the team, and in the process even making a Hall of Famer such as Joe Gibbs look bad in the process.