Redskin Insider -- Don't Believe the Hype

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

And GTripp, you sure are pretty gung-ho on this whole "Portis is past his prime, due to get a debilitating injury any day now because we use him too much" idea aren't you?

Speaking statistically, we all should be.

In the case of Portis, he's 26 going on 27, and he consistently does a good job protecting his legs. Both of those things are reasons that justify the financial implications of his new deal.

All Running Backs need to get pretty lucky to avoid injury every season. When they are in the lineup, a great running back can make a pretty big difference in terms of just how good an offense is. Portis is a runner who has had three great seasons: 2002, 2003, and 2005.

I think he is primed for a big 2008 season. But what if he gets banged up? I mean, look what happened to Shaun Alexander after he got his new deal in 2006. Alexander was a better back than Portis in his prime, and now he's pretty much garbage at the age of 30.

The point is that Portis is a good bet to have a career year this season, but if he happens to get banged up, then Cerrato looks like an absolute fool for investing so much in him ahead of time.