Portis apparently is not a dog lover

[mike340]

My feeling is "core Redskins" (for Gibbs) have certain capabilities and attitudes. Portis has the capabilities, but I wonder what Gibbs is thinking now.

One of the reasons I liked Portis was he always looked like he was just having fun, esp. on Thursdays. I hope that I can get that back, but currently I feel an idealogical gulf between Portis and me in relation to cruelty that leaves me wondering if that will be possible.

Some are comparing dog fighting to eating dogs, but I compare it to vivisection (cutting up something while it's still alive.)

As far as Vick goes, I guess he can at least be thankful they were pit bulls and not poodles! ;-)

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Grim21Reaper

Maybe it wasn't a joke but this thread is.

I couldn't give two shits about dogfighting. There are so many more troubling things in society than this.

Clinton Portis did not do anything wrong. He gave an opinion. It may have been an unintelligent one but spend one day in the Warpath and you will see hundreds of unintelligent opinions.

The fact that people are crucifying Clinton Portis over this is moronic. He is a football player not a thinker. What do you people expect to come out of his mouth? The cure for cancer?

You know what Portis' job is? Running over, above and around people. He is an entertainer, nothing more nothing less.

Then maybe he should just have shut up and not made the comments. Then he makes even more dumber coments which just add fuel to the flame. He has no one to blame but himself.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Roger Goodell has a statement out today condemning Portis. The comish is getting a lot of great press because of his campaign to clean up the league. "He doesn't want the NFL to end up like the NBA", is an oft repeated line.

I have to wonder, though, if this agressive approach will start to backfire after a while. He seems to think he's Oliver Cromwell or something. If I were Snyder I would not appreciate him chiming in like this so that he can be quoted in all the Portis stories. I wonder if this approach doesn't have the affect of making the problem seem worse than it is. Tagliabue was much more low key and the league was fine. I guess my question would be, "Is Roger doing this for the good of the NFL or is he doing it to elevate his own status and give the comissioner's office a higher profile?" I suspect the latter.

Excellent point, I'm getting sick of Goddell. The guy is kind of a meglomaniac it would seem. Has anyone noticed that Portis has not done anything. What he MEANT was that Vick has not even been convicted of anything and it is all rumor and inuendo. The whole Vick thing is stupid because no one knows his involvement (or lack thereof) and now Portis is just added on. Why people care what Portis says I have no idea except that the NFL now has a 24 hour news cycle so you need something to talk about.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Excellent point, I'm getting sick of Goddell. The guy is kind of a meglomaniac it would seem. Has anyone noticed that Portis has not done anything. What he MEANT was that Vick has not even been convicted of anything and it is all rumor and inuendo. The whole Vick thing is stupid because no one knows his involvement (or lack thereof) and now Portis is just added on. Why people care what Portis says I have no idea except that the NFL now has a 24 hour news cycle so you need something to talk about.

You are correct that Portis has done nothing wrong except for voicing hie opinion but his opinion supported illegal dog fighting. He should have just kept his mouth shut.

[Hog1]

The Commissioner is a breath of fresh air. He is serious about cleaning up what NEEDS to be cleaned up in the NFL. He is treating it just like any other company. Play by the rules or...pay. If you would rather be a lawless thug, you can. But, Not here. I have no problem with that.
Portis was just stupid and should have kept his mouth shut. He could have defended Vick without commiting verbal suicide. If he cannot handle a provocative interview.......just say no.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Excellent point, I'm getting sick of Goddell. The guy is kind of a meglomaniac it would seem. Has anyone noticed that Portis has not done anything. What he MEANT was that Vick has not even been convicted of anything and it is all rumor and inuendo. The whole Vick thing is stupid because no one knows his involvement (or lack thereof) and now Portis is just added on. Why people care what Portis says I have no idea except that the NFL now has a 24 hour news cycle so you need something to talk about.

Sick of him already?

I kinda like how he's setting a serious tone with the league, especially with the players on off the field issues.

All he did was comment on what Portis said, he's not going to punish him. I really don't see why Goodell's comments are off base.

Portis said something stupid and unfortunately it's something that the media is running with, no surprise there. Goodell is just doing his job.

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

Excellent point, I'm getting sick of Goddell. The guy is kind of a meglomaniac it would seem. Has anyone noticed that Portis has not done anything. What he MEANT was that Vick has not even been convicted of anything and it is all rumor and inuendo. The whole Vick thing is stupid because no one knows his involvement (or lack thereof) and now Portis is just added on. Why people care what Portis says I have no idea except that the NFL now has a 24 hour news cycle so you need something to talk about.

I agree. Goodwell is putting more fuel on a fire by talking about it. THis is a team issue at best (i see nothing wrong with Portis' comments). Goodwell should stay out of it unless legal action is brought on Vick. No way he should have controll over what players say or even what people say they have done untill its proven in a court.

[MTK]

This thread keeps getting worse and worse

The commish of the damn league isn't supposed to comment, yet Mr. Joe Schmoe Fan at home can light up message boards and talk radio all day long.

[Mc2guy]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Sick of him already?

I kinda like how he's setting a serious tone with the league, especially with the players on off the field issues.

All he did was comment on what Portis said, he's not going to punish him. I really don't see why Goodell's comments are off base.

Portis said something stupid and unfortunately it's something that the media is running with, no surprise there. Goodell is just doing his job.

Agree 100%. Not only is it appropriate for Goodell to comment, it is the lack of leadership by Tags on these issues that let the league get to the point where a "correction" is necessary. Had Tags had the gumption to actually take a stand when players started getting in trouble more often in the late 90's then the problem may not have gotten this bad.

And for those of you saying "it's just words, he didn't do anything wrong" I have to disagree. His words, which will continue to air on every sports broadcast from here to August, put the league in a negative light in the public, which contributes to the perception that the NFL is a haven for criminals (which we all know is not the case 99% of the time). His words make a bad situation worse because it brings more negative attention. The commish was right to say something to try and diffuse the negative press, and I support him 100% in his effort to turn around the current trend of malfeasence with the players.

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

This thread keeps getting worse and worse

The commish of the damn league isn't supposed to comment, yet Mr. Joe Schmoe Fan at home can light up message boards and talk radio all day long.

Exactly!

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

Exactly!

If it's true, and ignorance is bliss, this is one, HAPPY thread

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by Mc2guy

And for those of you saying "it's just words, he didn't do anything wrong" I have to disagree. His words, which will continue to air on every sports broadcast from here to August, put the league in a negative light in the public, which contributes to the perception that the NFL is a haven for criminals (which we all know is not the case 99% of the time). His words make a bad situation worse because it brings more negative attention. The commish was right to say something to try and diffuse the negative press, and I support him 100% in his effort to turn around the current trend of malfeasence with the players.

Ok, but this leads me to ask 'why was a microphone was shoved in CP's face in the first place?'
This is a small time news station that they asked him this stupid question and he gave a stupid answer, and then it gets out to the rest of the world (as these things always do) and people run with it. Think how happy WAVY or whatever it's called is to be getting this kind of national coverage. Hell, this could land that reporter a sideline job on ESPN.
To me, this is very similar to Hardaway's (I think that was his name) comments about gay players in the NBA. I feel like sports reporters ask these ridiculous questions of athletes hoping to get a controversial answer that will get them more coverage. No good can really come from asking/answering questions like this.
Who gives a flying f*** what these guys think about dog fighting, homosexuality, the war in Iraq, dinosaurs, American Idol, or whatever else happens to be in the news that week? They are paid to play a sport or possibly analyze it after their playing time is done; we don't need them to tell us what is right and what is wrong with the world around us, because that's Bill O'Reilly's duty.

[Mc2guy]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

I agree. Goodwell is putting more fuel on a fire by talking about it. THis is a team issue at best (i see nothing wrong with Portis' comments). Goodwell should stay out of it unless legal action is brought on Vick. No way he should have controll over what players say or even what people say they have done untill its proven in a court.

Wrong. This a league issue and Goodell is responsible for protecting the integrity and profitability of the league, what do you think he is there for?

Despite what you think, Portis, or any other player, is not "free" to say whatever they want devoid of repercussion. They are an employee of the league and as such they have a responsibility to not bring negative attention. Just like my boss wouldn't appreciate or tolerate me standing on the steps of the building spouting off in support of feloneous activity, Goodell is well within his job description to condemn Portis' comments when they bring such negative attention to the league.

[Mc2guy]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

Ok, but this leads me to ask 'why a microphone was shoved in CP's face in the first place?'
This is a small time news station who they asks him this stupid question and he gives a stupid answer, and then it gets out to the rest of the world (as these things always do) and people run with it.
To me, this is very similar to Hardaway's (I think that was his name) comments about gay players in the NBA. I feel like sports reporters ask these ridiculous questions of athletes hoping to get a controversial answer that will get them more coverage.
Who gives a flying f*** what these guys think about dog fighting, homosexuality, the war in Iraq, dinosaurs, American Idol, or whatever else happens to be in the news that week?

Let me clarify, I DON'T care what Portis thinks. It is irrelevant to me personally as long as he contributes to the team. However, the fact that he willfully spoke in support of felony criminal activity is a problem in that it bring significant negative attention to the league and hurts the ability of the league to make money.

The issue is advertising, which is the lionshare of the NFL revenue via it's TV contracts. If the advertisers don't want to associate their product with the league because players are on the police blotter or are spouting off in support of felony crimes, the value of the TV time goes way down, the contract rights to broadcast games become less valuable, and the league gets less money from the Networks to air the games. So while it seems like it shouldn't matter what players say, it does.

You are right, the reports do ask stupid questions in an attempt to illicit a stupid response. Portis should know this and should know to either keep his mouth shut or respond in a manner supportive of the person, not the activity, regardless of his views. If he isn't smart enough to know the difference that's his problem. He deserves the backlash he is getting right now from the public and the commish.

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

I agree. Goodwell is putting more fuel on a fire by talking about it. THis is a team issue at best (i see nothing wrong with Portis' comments). Goodwell should stay out of it unless legal action is brought on Vick. No way he should have controll over what players say or even what people say they have done untill its proven in a court.

Correct. This is a team issue handeled by the Redskins if need be. Goodwell has no business in this.