Clinton Portis Named the Starter

Today Shanahan announced that Portis would be the starting RB for the Redskins. Well sorry if I think it's way to early to name Portis the starter, no not name a starter, but name Portis the starter. Here's a guy who for the past few seasons had the mind set that he didn't need to show up to practice and that he was annointed the starting job come game day. And unfortunately when your head coaches were Gibbs, who I love to death but was not in his prime, and Zorn, who lets face it is probably one of the most clueless people ever to run a football team, well they let it happen. Portis never showed up for off season work outs or mini camps, and he played out of shape a lot. Now for those of you who don't remember Shanahan basically singled out Portis when he said at his first news conference as the Redskins Head Coach that older players were gonna have to show up at offseason work outs and mini camps to have a spot on the team. So yes Portis has been showing up, good job. But I find it hard to believe that he changed overnight, and the man that was once incredibly lazy and couldn't care less about the team is all of a sudden gung ho about work outs and ready to work his ass off day in and day out and show up to practice, things he has never done as a Redskin. And it's not just his history that makes me think it's to early to name a starter, Larry Johnson is out there working his ass off and actually looking good. Now yes I understand that he has an off the field history, but he has been nothing short of an angel since he was released from KC, I really do think that was an eye opener, and at the same time he is well known for working hard. Naming Portis the starter this soon is a mistake and might lead to Portis gaing a false sense of security and going back to his lazy ways.