Advice to Portis–Shutup

So Clinton Portis “definitely expects” to be back with the Washington Redskins in 2010.

“I know what I’m capable of doing, and I can’t wait to get back on the field next year to prove to people that I’m far from washed up or done,” Portis said on ESPN 2 last week.

Not so fast, CP.

Sometime in the next few weeks Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan will have to decide what they are going to do about Portis. From what Shanahan has said, it comes down to whether or not Portis is willing to dedicate himself to being in the best possible shape and to learning the new offense.

The offseason process won’t start until after the bulk of the free agency action is over with so to make his decision all Shanahan will have to go on is what Portis has said. Apparently the two have had a conversation where, no doubt, Portis said all the right things. But if you’re trying to decide about Portis’ fate, what do you think after hearing the following things that Portis has said on TV lately:

“I got so tired of all the BS that I just fell back. I think with Coach Shanahan coming in, that will give us the opp to have fun.”

So there are are a few distractions so let it affect your performance? It’s not fun for a while so you quit?

“I’m far from washed up or done. I will walk away from this game when I’m ready. The game’s not gonna pass me by.”

So where did you spend last offseason? The game will pass you by in a hurry if you’re hanging out at a club in South Beach when you should be working out.

If during his various media appearances Portis mentioned any plans to spend the spring in Ashburn working out and participating in OTA’s we didn’t hear about it.

So, if you’re Mike Shanahan and this is what you’re hearing, which way are you leaning when you’re deciding if you’re going to give him a shot or if you’re going to move on?

I would strongly recommend that Portis lay low and stay away from cameras and microphones. And if he should unavoidably find himself in front of one he should figure out what he should and should not say. Of course, he’s never shown much skill in that particular area.

Update: The Official Redskins Blog has video of both of Portis’ TV appearances up. In the NFL Network appearance, he does say something about needed to do what it takes to play for Shanahan. But later in the interview he actually admits that he asked the coaches to bench Mike Sellers earlier in the season. Portis comes out of it looking like a real dope. You can watch the video and/or check out the Sports Bog’s story on it.