Portis heard his groin "pop" (out 4-6 weeks)

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

It's not so much about people hating on Portis as it is the realization that all good things must eventually come to an end.

You won't get much of an argument relevant to Portis's skills as a blocker, but to be depended on week in and week out as your featured back, he has to maintain a combined skills set both as a runner and a blocker and be able to stay on the field. His assortment of injuries over the past few years are beginning to take their toll, it's evident his abilities as a runner have visibly declined. Again, not hating on Clinton, just recognizing the obvious, something I don't think is lost on him as well. Like many good r/b before him, they often find it hard to admit to themselves the fact their skills may be [to some degree] diminishing.

I agree. I think part of Portis's problem is the fact that when he first arrived Gibbs wanted him to gain weight. He wanted Portis to be a power back when in reality Portis was a shifty back. However Portis did gain the weight and performed admirably. Then when Gibbs left Portis was not the same after he decided he was going to lose weight and become the shifty back again.

I'm not in any way saying Portis sucked, just pointing out that I think Portis was forced into a roll he should not have been forced into then for whatever reason lost a step trying to lose weight. Perhaps part of it was due to age though.