Portis Denies Any Current Problems With Zorn

Redskins running back Clinton Portis has denied our recent report that he has demonstrated disrespect to coach Jim Zorn during offseason workouts. “How this story came about, I have no idea,” Portis told David Elfin of the Washington Times. “There’s nothing going on. There’s no beef between me and Coach Zorn. We’re on good terms at this present moment. There’s no problem.” Portis admitted that there was a past “flareup” with Zorn, but that it happened “a long time ago.” Portis also told Elfin that we (as in PFT) are trying to make trouble where none exists. Clinton, we honestly don’t give a shit. We use the stuff we get that we think our readers will find interesting. And when a credible source tells us that you mouthed off to your head coach during offseason workouts and another credible source corroborates the notion that you have no regard for Zorn, then it’s something we’re going to share with our audience. And we assume that Redskins fans (including some bloggers who lack the ability to be objective because they’re more concerned about seeing their favorite team be successful than they are about getting to the truth) will blindly accept the version of the events being told by Portis and quarterback Jason Campbell and anyone else with a vested interest in keeping the team’s dirty laundry in the locker room. The players and the team have an even greater incentive to keep any Portis-Zorn problems from offseason workouts under wraps if, as it appears, the player and the coach are mending fences. “Me and Coach [Joe] Gibbs had a great relationship,” Portis said. “We talked more than me and Coach Zorn do, but lately me and Coach Zorn been talking, trying to get on the same page. Things been going good. He understand me and I understand him.” This implies that, prior to “lately,” there were problems between the two men. And it’s possible (baseless speculation alert) that Portis now understands that, if Zorn goes after the 2009 season, Portis might not be too far behind him.