A look at the career of recently retired RB Clinton Portis
BY JOSH MCCAIN, Feedcrossing.com syndication
Former Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis officially hung up his cleats this week after nine seasons in the NFL. In just a few seasons with the Redskins Portis landed as the franchise’s second all-time leading rusher. Photo by: DrivingtheNortheast / Flickr
Yesterday afternoon Clinton Portis officially retired from the National FootballLeague. Since Portis had been of the league for over a year his retirement was of no surprise to anyone yet it was still a somber occasion.
When it was announced on Wednesday that Portis would be announcing his retirement at Redskins Park I felt that there should be a cause for celebration. Sure Portis had his faults but for the past twenty years of losing and mediocrity no other player in burgundy and gold had thumped his chest more with pride in being a Washington Redskin.
Of course if you were listening to former Redskin linebacker LaVar Arrington on his afternoon talk radio show you would have thought Portis to be a bum. LaVar and his sheeple callers seem to rag on Portis and if anyone praised the man LaVar would offer up some conjecture. It’s no secret that LaVar doesn’t like Portis (and vice versa) but there are times when you have to put personnel feelings aside and give a man his due.
I had not realized that a lot of fans felt this way about Portis. Sure this shtick would get annoying from time to time. His multiple personalties or his YouTube videos him and tightend Chris Cooley would make, but Portis was just having some fun while playing a game we all watch for entertainment.
Portis ran for 6,824 yards with 46 touchdowns as a Redskins and is only second to the immortal John Riggins in franchise history. There are so many running back in Redskins history that we look back on with fondness and only Riggo can say he was better than Portis. And even with Riggins’ size he still wasn’t half the blocker Portis was. In an era where most running backs consider a block to be just shoving a blitzing linebacker, Portis summoned his inner Russ Grimm and would drill anyone who came his way. (more…)
Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings Have High Expectations
BY MICHAEL RATH, Feedcrossing.com syndication
Quarterback Christian Ponder is entering his second season in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings. Ponder had a sub-par year last season as he played in 11 games throwing 13 touchdowns and 13 picks. However, this year, Ponder is coming in with lofty goals for himself.
Earlier in training camp, Ponder mentioned to the media that it was his goal and the Vikings goal to score every time they had possession. What has he done so far this preseason? He has put the Vikings in position to score every time he has been in as they have scored four out of the five times he has been in. The only time they did not score was when rookie Blair Walsh missed a field goal. How about that for living up to a goal?
While this will obviously not keep up for the rest of the year, and it is a small sample size, it is a great start. However, Ponder made another statement. According to a blog by Mike Wobschall and NFL.com, Ponder said, “We want 75 percent completions on first and second downs. That’s the number we’re shooing for. Obviously, we were in a lot of third-and-long situations a year ago, and we want to get out of that.” This obviously is a lofty, lofty goal. (more…)
New York Jets offense: What has changed so far?
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez hasn’t exactly played his best this preseason. Photo by: cool13902008 / Flickr
BY DONALD LAPPE, Feedcrossing.com syndication
Two preseason games into the reign of Tony Sparano as offensive coordinator, it doesn’t seem like much had changed on the field. The New York Jets offense is still stuck in reverse, merely a place keeper between defensive possessions. The nature of defense is surrendering points, but last season’s offense made playing 60 minutes of defense seem like a much safer venture. The offensive performance so far this preseason seems headed down the same path.
There is no denying that the Jet offense has looked horrific to this point in the preseason. That doesn’t mean there’s any reason to start smashing the panic button, but some encouraging signs would be nice this week. The Jets should have a more focused approach to attacking the Carolina Panthers this week, which will hopefully bring along better results.
Although the Jets haven’t done any game-specific pre-planning for the first two preseason games, they also haven’t done some of the things Sparano promised. The most important being deeps shots down the field. That might just be because it hasn’t been there or it hasn’t been called for whatever reason, but the Jets need to throw the ball deep this season to be successful. (more…)
Couch Side Podcast 27: The future of Cowboy baseball
Click below to start listening
BY Couchsideshow.com staff
Cody Wyoming native Sean Schoonover played three years for the University of Wyoming’s club baseball team.
In this week’s episode, Couch Side hosts Wade McMillin and Craig Paul are joined by special guests Andy Paul and Sean Schoonover. While Andy stops by to talk football, covering Part Six of Couch Side’s NFL Season Preview — AFC North — and Fantasy Football advise, Sean is interviewed by Craig and Wade about his college baseball playing days, the future of Wyoming collegiate baseball and the dream season of the Sheridan Troopers baseball program, Click below to stream, download or subscribe to the Couch Side podcast. Also, remember to tune in to 89.1 FM KNWT every Wednesday at 4 p.m. across the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming to hear this show on the air waves of Northwest College’s radio station. Video coming soon!
Click here to stream, download or subscribe Couch Side Episode 26: Status of the NBA via iTunes
Click here to stream Couch Side Episode 26: Status of the NBA via out host site, Talkshoe
Click here to download Couch Side Episode 26: Status of the NBA via our host site, Talkshoe
Scutaro, Belt possibilities in Giants outfield following Cabrera Suspension
San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt could see some time in the outfield after All-Star Melky Cabrera received a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball. Photo by: The Bay Area Bias / Flickr
BY SCOTT SEMMLER, Feedcrossing.com syndication
Melky Cabrera will not be with the team following his 50-game suspension, and with it comes offensive uncertainty in the San Francisco Giants’ lineup.
On Wednesday, manager Bruce Bochy replaced Cabrera in the lineup with Gregor Blanco. However, that could very well change as the season progresses and the playoff race heats up. The Giants now have some decisions to make pertaining to their roster.
Bochy hinted at the fact that Blanco could get the majority of the starts in the outfield, but there is also the topic of a lack of power in the lineup now that they do not have Cabrera batting third. Substituting his bat with the weaker bat of Blanco is simply a downgrade for a team still in dire need of offense any given night. So the idea of moving players from the infield into the outfield creeped into the postgame press conference room after a loss to the Washington Nationals, which followed Cabrera’s suspension.
The two names mentioned were Brandon Belt and Marco Scutaro. Bochy did not rule either of them out. (more…)
Carmelo Anthony not satisfied with Olympic Gold
New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony now has an Olympic Gold Medal, but he doesn’t want to stop until he has an NBA title. Photo by: ctsnow / Flickr
BY SPORTS MEDIA 101, Via Feedcrossing.com
Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, earlier this week, both earned their second Olympic Gold medals of their careers. LeBron now joins Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen as the only players to win Olympic gold and the NBA Championship in the same year. And if you ask me LeBron James has never looked better, I don’t mean that physically either. When i looked in LeBron’s face holding up the NBA Finals trophy I saw relief and happiness. But after the USA Men’s basketball team defeated Spain just the other day, I saw that same face with the same expression on LeBron once again. Though this time around, Lebron might feel even more relieved and more happy.
If you don’t think Melo is watching LeBron and seeing that he is happier than ever right now, you’re crazy. Melo has already motivated himself to not only join LeBron as an Olympian but as a NBA Champion as well.
Now it can not be mistaken, Melo loves playing for the USA in International basketball. He has been playing since 2002 and played every year by his own choice. Melo is happy and proud of his two Olympic gold’s but he is not satisfied. Melo wants that elusive NBA Championship. He would burry his gold medal, possibly both, and put a tombstone over it to win the NBA Finals. The Tombstone would probably read something like “Sorry, not Sorry.” He sees how all of a sudden LeBron is now loved by more than ever, a clutch player, and undoubtedly the best player in the world right now. He wants that too. (more…)
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