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WT: Portis remains cautious


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http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070810/SPORTS01/108100093/1023

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Portis remains cautious

August 10, 2007

By Ryan O'Halloran - Earlier in his career, even last year, Clinton Portis would have tried to rush back from an injury to play, risking the chance of a setback.

But choosing discretion over valor is Portis' strategy this August, meaning he won't practice and certainly won't play for the Washington Redskins until the tendinitis in his knee has become manageable.

"Last year, I wanted to be on the field, wanted to do this, wanted to do that, wanted to be a part of things," he said yesterday at Redskin Park. "But when I was out there, I wasn't the No. 26 of old and all of a sudden, I was written off like I [stink].

"I'm going to take my time. When I feel comfortable and the training team feels good about me being out there, I'll be out there."

Portis, who hasn't practiced since July 30, will make the trip to Tennessee for tomorrow night's preseason opener so he can be examined by team consultant Dr. James Andrews.

"From what I can tell and going off what he says, he feels better and stronger," coach Joe Gibbs said. "I think we're on the right track there. It's just a matter of how long it's going to take."

During Wednesday night's practice, Portis did several agility drills that had him stopping and starting and also making cuts. Yesterday, he said he did some exercises before the media was allowed to watch and then rode the stationary bike.

"I can tell the improvement," he said. "A week or two ago, we focused on the strength part. Now we're focusing on stretching it. Since we started that process, things have gone a lot better."

Portis wouldn't speculate on whether he will return to practice on Monday. The biggest hurdle is being able to make running back-like moves without pain. Until then, he'll be limited to running in straight lines and riding the bike.

Thrash tweaks groin

Redskins receiver/special teams ace James Thrash sustained a mild groin injury and defensive tackle Joe Salave'a a minor hamstring injury during yesterday's practice. Both are still expected to be available tomorrow night.

"[Thrash] said he could go but James always says he can go," Gibbs said. "When he says he has just a little something, we pay a lot of attention to it."

Also sitting out were Portis, left tackle Chris Samuels, receiver Brandon Lloyd (shin splints), tight end Tyler Ecker (groin), defensive tackle Vaka Manupuna (quadriceps) and cornerback Jerametrius Butler (hamstring).

Getting in a routine

This is center Casey Rabach's sixth training camp and third with the Redskins so he knows the drill about the first few weeks of training camp — get through it. Although the schedule becomes less intense starting next week (the last two-a-day is Tuesday), Rabach said things don't return to normal for another week.

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I really hate this walking wounded thing going on with the team Now its Salvea and Thrash on top of Portis, and Lloyd and Samuels and Moss's hamstring problems not to mention the people coming back from injury or surgery like Randy Thomas, Marcus W. and Shawn Springs, BRUNELL, and Griff.

My Gawd, is there an injury curse going on or is it their training methods or do the Skins just go out and get wimpy injury prone players. I mean they haven't even played a game yet and the guys are all sitting out PRACTICE...I mean we're talkin bout practice. IF THEY'RE GOIN DOWN ON THE PRACTICE FIELD...WHAT IN THE HECK IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN OTHER BIGGER AND MEANER FELLOWS ARE TRYING TO HURT THEM IN A REAL GAME.

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Usually minor injuries like these can mean that the players aren't conditioned. This has been a hot summer, and dehydration may also be a reason. I would put some of the blame on the trainers, as it is their responsibility to make sure these injuries due to dehydration don't occur. I would also put some blame on the players, as they may have come to TC out of shape. If that's not the case, then it is a curse :(.

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I really hate this walking wounded thing going on with the team Now its Salvea and Thrash on top of Portis, and Lloyd and Samuels and Moss's hamstring problems not to mention the people coming back from injury or surgery like Randy Thomas, Marcus W. and Shawn Springs, BRUNELL, and Griff.

My Gawd, is there an injury curse going on or is it their training methods or do the Skins just go out and get wimpy injury prone players. I mean they haven't even played a game yet and the guys are all sitting out PRACTICE...I mean we're talkin bout practice. IF THEY'RE GOIN DOWN ON THE PRACTICE FIELD...WHAT IN THE HECK IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN OTHER BIGGER AND MEANER FELLOWS ARE TRYING TO HURT THEM IN A REAL GAME.

Lets see who plays on saturday and how they do before we get worked up about our guys being punks and not being able to handle a training camp.

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A lot of the players sitting out of practice is precautionary. It's not that we have wimpy players, it's not that we have stupid trainers or coaches. Now is the time that if someone is hurting you give them a few days off to get healthy. Why let nagging injuries continue to nag when the preseason is just starting. We need these guys healthy is September, not now. As much as I want them getting reps together I'd rather have them in the real games. If we followed other teams as closely as we follow our Redskins I'm sure we'd be seeing similar injury situations.

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I can't say much about the other players but I don't believe Potris is injured. He did not want to play in preseason games last year and just made sure he will not have to play this year. By the last preseason game Portis will be just fine.

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Lloyd will struggle all season....I have had shin splints and they are no joke. There is no remedy but rest that will help.....

Absolutley, I had them my junior year of high school play lacrosse, sucked it up for about 2 weeks and then could barely walk by our last game

It takes rest, Lloyd probably shouldn't practice next week

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Yeah, the nagging injuries really are getting worrisome. Now Thrash and Big Joe too?

Hard to read whether these are really serious issues the team is masking (Portis & Lloyd) or if they are just being overprotective by holding guys out that could go.

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I can't say much about the other players but I don't believe Potris is injured. He did not want to play in preseason games last year and just made sure he will not have to play this year. By the last preseason game Portis will be just fine.

I agree with you. But does that mean he will be a little less prepared than he should be? Presumably the other players are going through training camp for a reason?

As much as I will always hate Michael Irvin, I actually enjoyed watching his road to Canton special a little (oh, the shame!). I have to respect the guy and his work ethic and will and what Emmitt Smith said he did for Smith's work ethic. (After this post I will be burning my hands in hot oil for having typed this. So much for getting work done today.)

I don't know, one of the biggest stars on the team is sitting out of camp and the preseason because of the most minor of "injuries", just because he's still pouting about a freak accident from last year. That does not sit well with me at all.

He'll probably still do fine. But I bet he would do better and be a better team player if he participated in camp. And maybe that's only a little extra bit of improvement, but that little extra bit is often what makes the difference between playoffs and no playoffs.

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I can't say much about the other players but I don't believe Potris is injured. He did not want to play in preseason games last year and just made sure he will not have to play this year. By the last preseason game Portis will be just fine.

So you're saying Portis took some kind of pill that creates a temporary tendonitis in his knee and that it'll wear off once the season starts?

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Every time I read anything about Clinton these days I get pissed off. :tantrum: I watched the Dallas vs. Indy game last night everyone played at least one series and seemed motivated. He is acting like a fragile Pre-Madonna and I am getting pissed off. All of the crap he is shoving out, better pay dividends. He is really blowing me these days. :hammer:

What happened to the players that practice like they play. I guess those days are long gone at Redskin Park. :doh:

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Vinnick after what happened to Portis last year during the preseason, can't you understand WHY he doesn't want to play this year? As much as we all hated losing our stud last year, I guarantee you it hurt him THAT MUCH MORE to be on the sidelines. People can say what they want about how Portis acts silly, dresses up, sometimes says things he probably shouldn't have said, but there is no denying he LOVES this game, this team, and his coach. He'd do ANYTHING to win, and he proved that in 2005 and last year (playing despite being hurt) I agree with Portis and LT, if you are the francise player, and you know the offensive system and your teammates, why risk it?

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