Running Backs, of all position players, need more "reps" at game speed to improve/sharpen "field vision". You need to know the timing of your blockers at full speed. Injuries can happen at any time. It's a contact sport.

Players will get hurt no matter what.

With that said, preseason is too long.

Better option: 7 vs 7 touch Summer League for the rookies (and any other "on the fence" personnel) is a good way to evaluate the talent. Also, it will break the players into game performance situations without the impact.

I do think that two preseason game should be allowed to shake off the bad play for regular games; or maybe not. Maybe make it like NCAA, and all games count. Put your non-conference games in first, then your conference play.

I think this could work. The only people losing would be the owners.

(sidebar: off season is not long enough for the NFL. Too many pre-camps, "Vonuntary" workouts, and the like. They also need more time off to heal and such. Many players get injured due to lack of downtime. Of course, just as many get hurt to to lack of preparation, so I guess that is moot.)

Don't get me wrong, cut me and you'll see burgundy and gold blood.

But I partially blame Portis, only because the play was away from him and there were enough team mates around to make that tackle.

Obviously, he wanted to play due to his intensity of running across the field and laying one hell of hit on the player, but at a cost.

There's nothing wrong with starting your veterens in the first pre-season, just to get the juices flowing and for some teams its normal.

Was he in the game too long? (Is a liable question)

Should they decrease Pre-season games, yes.

Thanks

Portis got hurt trying hard during a game that didn't matter.

He should have just let the guy score, no one would have cared....except for him.

I applaud his effort, but it was for nothing. It's not like he would get cut if they see him not trying after an interception. However, a 5th round draft pick doesn't try like that, he'd be cut.

Portis should have protected himself.

Best tackle I've seen in two years though.

All of you bozoos that say Portis is evenly partailly at fault for playing full speed and making a great tackle are the same type of folks that would knock Randy Moss or T.O. for taking plays off. You can't have it both ways.

I will take it the Portis way anyday. You play the game hard and whatever happens, happens! At this point, he may not even miss the opener.

It is unfortunate he got hurt but it comes with the territory. Vets should play a minimum in each pre-season game and hope not to get injured -- but, it comes with the territory. Yes, he's a high-caliber player but don't carry yourself in such esteem that you sound like you're whining 'cause you're mad that you got hurt... Suck it up, rest-up, rehab well and don't give opponents any extra mental or physical incentive to target you. It's going to be a special season and Portis will be one of the reasons why.

To Gordy, insults are not necessary.

I still stand by my comment regarding Portis not having to make that play.

Sounds like you're being pro-portis, which is a good position but that's not going to have him ready by regular season game one.

I'm being sympathetic and you're being empathetic (look it up).

It hurts me for one I just purchase my $300 portis jersey. So go figure!

Frankey....thanks for making my post for me.

Thanks Fitz, I think Portis would take our critism better than some brown noser feeling sorry for him.

Honest friends are the best friends.

I think Portis was just lashing out because he's po'd at getting hurt and was just venting. I can't believe he's really mad at the coaching staff. I thought Gibbs' response was correct.

Portis is right that there are too many preseason (two's plenty), but wrong in that all of the players need to get some action against other teams. Had he gotten hurt in the 4th games, I'd agree with him. BTW, I love the way he plays the game and don't fault him at all for the hustle. It was just a freak injury.

I am torn on Portis' comments. Pre-season is too long, but I love seeing the team play anytime I can. Unfortunately no one is going to pay to see the back-ups play 4+ games.

Keep in mind... Portis did not try to push that d-back out of bounds, but instead he tried to knock the snot out of him and got himself hurt trying!! I'll take that kind of hitting anyday!!

What would the news have said if Portis didn't at least try to stop that guy from scoring? "Look at the Star dogging it!"

Pre-season is a no-win for anyone not trying to make the team.

Be a man and play, you are making millions, If I got paid millions I would not care if I played preseason games. Don't Cry, Dry your eye,

You play as you practice. You go all out in practice you will play that way. Portis only knows one speed game speed. It was a freak accident and the best thing is it happened in the first preseason game so there is better than a 50% chance he will be there week one. If not who cares rest him up for Dallas, Betts can carry the loan against Minnesota.

Portis is a player, whether or not he wanted to be in there or not he was. I was glad he ran down there and stopped Ratliff, but received about 10 phone calls as soon as he went down. He'll be back and be fine. I think his pride is hurt more than his shoulder. If it didnt happen and he ran a touchdown we wouldnt hear any of this.
If its anyones fault, its Brunells for half assing that pass!

Off the Portis subject, but I didn't see either Randal-El or Patten play. Where they in the game?

rather, "were" they in the game?

Ironically, the preaseason is not too long. Think about it, if the preaseason was shorter, Portis would be injured well into the regular season. We all know what Portis can do in a gametime situation when the game matters the most. I would rather him be injured right now during this elongated preaseason and have time to rehab that shoulder than to have him miss 2 to 3 weeks during the regular season. I still think that If he misses the first couple of games, I have faith in Ladell to get the job done!!!! GO SKINS!!!

I agree, he'll be back definitely depending on the injury and that first hit on that shoulder.

And, I'm sure he'll continue to play as hard as long as he doesn't rush the healing process.

The preseason will probably never be shortened. On the Sunday night broadcast John Madden mentioned that the owners love it because they include them in the price of the season tickets and the players don't get payed extra for it.

That being said, I agree with Frankey and Fitz. Portis could have just shoved the guy out of bounds. Instead he stuck his left arm out and took him down. Maybe you should go all out in a regular season game, but it's understandable if you play it safe in the preseason. Portis is just venting.

I agree with the last post. Portis was just trying to make a play on the guy running back the interception. However, it's just a friggin, worthless preseason game. I think what happened to Portis magnifies the debate that exhibition games are worthless, there's too many of them, and they present more instances that a player may sustain minor or major injuries causing the player to miss the season. Portis gets paid millions of dollars to RUN the football, and block if he's in as a decoy. THAT's IT. He had no business trying to make a tackle that had the potential of ending his season! I don't care if he would have been viewed as avoiding the play if he did nothing. That would have been better than getting injured. The Redskins need to worry about staying healthy and should just save their energy for GAMES THAT MATTER. Portis should have just shoved Ratliff out of bounds. If it was a playoff game or a regular season game and the skins were behind, then yes, an act like that would be warranted. If I were Portis, I would have just tried to push him out, and if that didn't cut it, then I would have gotten out of the way or just slip to the ground (which is what a lot of tacklers do when they fail to make a tackle) Anyway, that's neither here nor there because he did what he did and injured his shoulder. Luckily, it was only a partial separation and not a full, and he didn't sustain much damage to any ligaments in his shoulder. It wasn't season ending, he'll be back early in the regular season.

Players get hurt whether its in training camp, preseason games, or in the regular season. I agree that preseason games should be cut to maybe two. But, the high school teams and college don't have preseason games, and you don't hear much about those players getting hurt.