Clinton runs again
Portis -- not Bill -- could help make coach Gibbs' return success in Washington
By ROB LONGLEY, TORONTO SUN
Is Washington ready for another Clinton era? Or the return of Joe Gibbs, for that matter? The Redskins are one of the those wise-guy choices on the eve of the first Sunday of the NFL season.
In a league becoming well known for upstart contenders (see Carolina, Tampa Bay and New England at the past three Super Bowls) some are touting Washington as a lead turnaround candidate this season.
The Clinton some think will help make it happen, of course, is running back Clinton Portis, the former workhorse of the Denver Broncos who was sent to the capital in an off-season trade.
For the past decade, Gibbs has been known more for winning NASCAR titles as a team owner of Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart. Before that though, he was a Super Bowl-winning coach with the 'Skins and regarded as one of the best in his profession.
The big question surrounding Portis is whether he is a premier NFL back (possible) or a product of the powerful run-oriented Broncos offence (probable).
Portis feels he belongs among the elite, naturally, and is anxious to prove it starting tomorrow against a tough Tampa Bay Buccaneers defence.
"Of course I want to be the focal point, but I'm not going to pout if I'm not the focal point of every game," Portis said.
"I'm prepared to carry this team as far as I can, but I think we have enough players around here that somebody's going to step up."
The big question surrounding Gibbs is whether he can still be in touch with the NFL after a decade away.
Of course, Redskins fans will tell you no one can be more out of touch than the Steve Spurrier debacle of the past two years.
Besides Portis, the Redskins will have a probable upgrade at quarterback with the acquisition of seasoned Jacksonville Jaguars veteran Mark Brunell.
The Redskins paid a dear price for Portis, shipping Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey to Denver. But expect the defence to improve anyway because of the arrival of defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams and cornerback Shawn Springs, and the presence of all-world linebacker Lavar Arrington.
Williams was a bust as the Buffalo Bills head coach but is renowned for the defences he built during his days as Jeff Fisher's assistant with the Tennessee Titans.
NOBODY'S PERFECT
Mike Vanderjagt knew his NFL record streak of consecutive field goals would have to end some time. The Oakville native and former Argos kicker just wishes it wouldn't have come at the crucial point of a crucial game.
Vanderjagt's 48-yard wide-right miss with 24 seconds remaining of Thursday's season opener let the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots escape with a 27-24 win over Vanderjagt's Indianapolis Colts.
"Really, there's no reason," Vanderjagt told the Indianapolis Star when asked to explain the miss. "I didn't choke. I didn't feel the pressure.
"It didn't go in. I'm not perfect, I guess, anymore."
Vanderjagt made all 37 attempts during the 2003 season to run his streak to a record 41, which was increased by one on Thursday with a 32-yarder in the first half.
It didn't help that pouty Peyton Manning was sacked for a 12-yard loss on the play previous to the failed effort, turning a would-be 36-yarder into a much riskier 48-yard effort.
"(Manning) didn't see him coming, so there wasn't much he could do about it," said Vanderjagt, whose previous regular-season miss was on Dec. 8, 2002. "I'm sure he didn't want a 12-yard sack any more than I did."
It won't get much easier in the short term for the Colts, a team touted as a possible Super Bowl contender. Next week, they meet their AFC South rival Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
GIVE HIM THE BALL
Carson Palmer has waited a year to get the football. Fans of his Cincinnati Bengals have waited the better part of a decade to see their team play the game with some competence.
Palmer, the No. 1 pick overall by the Bengals in the 2003 draft, finally gets his chance and will make his debut as the starting quarterback in tomorrow's game against the New York Jets.
The improving Bengals opted to baby Palmer last year but feel the former Heisman Trophy winner is ready for the big time.
"Obviously I have a lot to learn about playing in the NFL, but I'm ready to roll," Palmer said. "I feel confident in my abilities to out there and get a win and I feel confident in my teammates."
Palmer will be one of six quarterbacks who were selected first overall to start this weekend. Palmer joins Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe (1993) Houston's David Carr (2002), Indy's Peyton Manning (1998), Dallas' Vinny Testaverde (1987) and Atlanta's Michael Vick (2001).
