Burgold Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 While listening to 106.7, Lavar bemoaned the fact that CP was getting one day's attention and then most of the Washington sports world turned its attention to the continuing trial of Albert Haynesworth. He thought that CP was not getting his due and as the Redskins' second leading rusher and the face of this team for so many years that the guy was getting short shrift by the fans. Now, I didn't see that on ES, but I suppose it may be true under the lens of talk radio. In any case, I do agree that CP deserves more than one day's worth of thought and appreciation. However, he lost me when he said that CP deserves the same tribute and respect we would have given to a Monk, Green, or Riggo and that CP stood on their level in Redskins' lore. Clinton Portis does not stand on that level. Some of it is not his fault. It's not Clinton's fault that he was never part of greatness or got to hold aloft that trophy or throw up a fist at a Superbowl. The others did. For me, it is the combination of great fetes and great memories that make the legend. No Redskin player ranks with Clark, Monk, Green, Theismann, Rypien, Butz, Mann, Olkiewitz, etc. We've certainly had some better athletes in the past twenty years, but a great player is far more than stats. It's ultimately about memories. It's about moments. When I close my eyes and think Redskins I don't see Moss, Cooley, Portis, or even Sean Taylor. Taylor is John Kennedy. We revere him more for his potential than what he actually did on the field. The dream of what Sean Taylor could have been will always be greater than the player who roamed the field. And that's as it should be. Monk and Riggo will always be better than they were. CP, because he was not part of a great team will never be put in their pantheon... at least in my book. The things we forgive Riggo for because of his ring and that one glorious fourth down run muddies Portis' image. So yes, Portis deserves our respect and our respects, but despite his numbers Lavar is wrong. He isn't an all time great and shouldn't be expected to be treated like one. He didn't create enough memories on the field. He didn't have enough moments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolio47 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Portis gave it everything he had and carried this team on multiple occasions. But alas, his body eventually gave way, and he wasn't the same anymore. Deserves more than what he is getting.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
putartmonkinthehall Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I think the celebration of CP's Washington career is muted by the decent chance that he will be back with the team at a cheaper price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABSTRACT Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 ESPN was quick to call him Clinton "Tortoise" and report when he was released. They also never mentioned us signing Atogwe and pairing him up with Landry and Hall to make a vicious secondary. It's sad that there is so much bias in the media against the Redskins. As for Portis, regardless of what ANYONE thinks, Portis is a legend here and he is our #2nd leading rusher in franchise history. This era, Danny's 10 yr. era, is MY era of Redskins football and idc what anyone says...I have great memories of Portis, Cooley, and Moss. Portis deserves much more recognition as the face of this franchise for the past decade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 It's just a personal opinion, but Portis lies on a tier below Riggo, Monk, Clark, Green. Part of that may be childhood affection, but it is also the fact that greatness is made of more than individual successes. Those guys are Olympians. Portis is a demi-god. Nothing wrong with being Perseus or Hercules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scruffylookin Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I'm a huge CP defender in terms of his place in Skins history but I can't argue with the way you presented why you don't place CP on the same level of other past greats. Certainly being key players on winners gives those players the nostalgia bump that great players on bad teams simply don't enjoy. No argument from me on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxinFish29 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I think the celebration of CP's Washington career is muted by the decent chance that he will be back with the team at a cheaper price this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrifNick21 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I think the celebration of CP's Washington career is muted by the decent chance that he will be back with the team at a cheaper price this Not happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2cents Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Sorry, it is not his fault we didn't win but guys like him will never be revered like Monk, Green and Riggo because they got rings. May not be fair, but that is the way it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABSTRACT Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Sorry, it is not his fault we didn't win but guys like him will never be revered like Monk, Green and Riggo because they got rings. May not be fair, but that is the way it is. We put too much value in rings. Portis does not have anything to do with our front office. Portis is the man!!!! My favorite RB in SKins history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrepDC Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 For my generation, Portis is our Riggins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 That was a good post OP CP is the greatest Skins RB I've seen live but legends are mostly known by their successes so CP gets the short end of the stick in that regard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2cents Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 And I hate to say it younger guys, but if you had been here when Riggo was here, you would understand. You can't because you weren't there. It is a great feeling to watch your team wins it all. I hope we ALL get to feel that again. SOON!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enter Apotheosis Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 It's just a personal opinion, but Portis lies on a tier below Riggo, Monk, Clark, Green. Part of that may be childhood affection, but it is also the fact that greatness is made of more than individual successes. Those guys are Olympians. Portis is a demi-god. Nothing wrong with being Perseus or Hercules. I'll probably go ahead and agree with you that Portis is a tier below Monk, Clark, and Green but I'd contend that Riggins is also on that lower tier. Lots of parallels can be drawn between Riggo and CP if you think about it a little bit, the main difference between the two is that one benefited more from the talent around him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stat2883 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 My personal opinion (and I didn't start watching football til after Riggo) is that Portis is right there with Riggins, just on lesser teams. I don't put him in the same class as Monk or Green though because of years that Monk and Green put in (as well as being HOFers). 7 years of hard-nosed running and injury problems in the latter years does not compare with 20 years of elite to above average play at the CB position, or the consistency and dependability of Art Monk. But yes, in the Snyder era, I'll always think of Portis, Moss, Cooley, Taylor, and Gibbs until something comes along to replace that. Those have been my favorite players of the past decade (post Darrell Green). I'll always root for Clinton wherever he may land. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanut0862 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 His jersey is the only one I own but the other three are all in the HOF and have the rings. Lavar is just trying to get people stired up witch I guess is his job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addicted Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I've been feeling that as a fanbase we don't give the same respect to any of the players of the last 20 years because they didn't bring home a championship that we do the players from the 1980's. I agree that stats alone don't make you great and I can't see what beef Portis might have about his fans admiration of him. He was a great player and we all thank him for putting his all into this game for us but you can't compare him at the same level of history making players like Riggins. I have to question if this same argument was being made when Chris Samuals retired? That's the top Redskin from the 2000s that deserves to be inducted into the ring of fame. He was a league wide top player at his position for his entire career and don't think that you can say that about Portis. He should have been treated with a better send off that he was given by the fanbase but because one Offensive Lineman can't win you a superbowl by himself he's been forgotten about. It's shouldn't just be about Superbowls and we need to recognize great players like him better then we did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tex Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Clinton Portis does not stand on that level. I disagree. Had CP been supported by the talent mentioned his potential would have been off the charts. CP was an island that withstood all that was thrown against him. For example: he broke the Redskins' franchise record for the most rushing yards in a season with 1,516 yards and tied the most 100+ yard games in a season at 5. By rushing for 1,516 yards, he became only the third runner in league history to reach 1,500 yards in three of his first four seasons. Nothing but love for CP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outlaw Torn Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Not happening. What makes you say that? Not a call out just honestly wondering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipwhich Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I'll probably go ahead and agree with you that Portis is a tier below Monk, Clark, and Green but I'd contend that Riggins is also on that lower tier. Lots of parallels can be drawn between Riggo and CP if you think about it a little bit, the main difference between the two is that one benefited more from the talent around him. It's funny all of this talk with CP versus Riggo....but no mention of Larry Brown. CP is the 3rd best back to play for the Redskins behind those two. Larry Brown's career is probably more in line with Portis results, except Larry played in seasons consisting of 14 games instead of 16. Both backs were run to the ground and littered with injuries. Unlike Portis, Brown and Riggo were both league MVP's. Unlike Portis, Brown and Riggo were both ridden to get to the Super Bowl. Larry Brown didn't get a ring, but went to 4 consecutive pro bowls, and had more accolades than Portis ever received. Even if you dismiss Riggo, Brown was a better back than Portis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhead36 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Portis was a fantastic Redskin no doubt, but Green, Monk, and Riggins are legends. They weren't just great Redskins, they were all-time great NFL players as evidenced by their HOF status. I love Portis but he is not a HOF-er, not even close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MintHillSkinsFan Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 It's funny all of this talk with CP versus Riggo....but no mention of Larry Brown.CP is the 3rd best back to play for the Redskins behind those two. Larry Brown's career is probably more in line with Portis results, except Larry played in seasons consisting of 14 games instead of 16. Both backs were run to the ground and littered with injuries. Unlike Portis, Brown and Riggo were both league MVP's. Unlike Portis, Brown and Riggo were both ridden to get to the Super Bowl. Larry Brown didn't get a ring, but went to 4 consecutive pro bowls, and had more accolades than Portis ever received. Even if you dismiss Riggo, Brown was a better back than Portis. I was reading the thread thinking this same thing. Brown and Riggins, not to mention Monk and Green, are not only Redskins legends but NFL legends. I love Portis and have nothing but respect for him but he is the third best running back in Redskins history. One thing I will admit though is that Portis is the most fierce pass blocker I have ever seen at the running back position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrifNick21 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 What makes you say that? Not a call out just honestly wondering. Because I pay attention to what is said in other threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF44 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 For my generation, Portis is our Riggins. I weep for your generation. I also hope you get to experience a run like we did in your lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLiverpool Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Its hard to judge players from different eras, but Portis does deserve the same level of recognition because he was a core redskins at a time when they weren't going to Superbowls. He helped carry them into the playoffs, and lived through the tragedy of losing a best friend and still staying with the team. Maybe he didn't have fifteen years, but in an era where careers for RBs seem short, he deserves major props. It is a sad day in Washington and he will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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