Smoke Signals: Riggo v. Portis

the dallas scoreboard is just dumb. yes, its within the rules, but clearly its going to impede play...why not just raise it? whats a couple of mill when you just sank 1.? billion?

Yeah but I wouldn't call it an off-field distraction. It'll be just a distraction to Jerry Jones.

The issue isn't really who is a better running back -- John Riggins or Clinton Portis. Portis' stats are better and he should pass Riggo as the franchise rushing leader. However, Riggo took the team to 2 Super Bowls and was the MVP of one of them. Portis' hasn't come close to anything like that.

But none of that is the issue. The issue is Riggins' criticism of Portis, which I think is on the mark. Riggo had a colorful personal life, but he didn't undermine teammates or coaches. And if jealousy is the motivation for Riggo's criticism of Portis, what's the motivation for Brian Mitchell's criticism of Portis? Also jealousy? Isn't it possible to be critical of Clinton Portis without being jealous of him? Or does the entire Redskins world have to be filled with jock-worship for Portis the way Dan Snyder is?

I hope not. Portis is a terrific football player [I did rank him as the division's best running back in the Battle of the NFC East series], but he's also a loudmouth egomaniac who needs to learn to shut up and play.

Also, I doubt Riggo would trade his Super Bowl ring for all of Portis' stats.

I really like this.

This is as much as a distraction as the HD scoreboard is for Dallas.
Ugh, here we go again as if it wasn't beaten to death in another thread. And yeah that horse is dead.

All this flub from 1 punt by a backup punter, and not even mentioning the other 32 other punts in that stadium by punters who WILL be on a roster this season did not even get close to the scoreboard.

When Portis carries a team to the Super Bowl, wins the MVP award, and makes the Hall of Fame he can say he's better then Riggo...until then STFU already. I used to love Portis but the more he talks the more I want to cut him and start over...RB's are not that hard to find. If it were not for his relationship with Snyder he would probably be gone already...

Does Portis know that the hogs came on to the scene when Riggins was 32-33 yrs old . I don't care what CP says , I like the way he plays / blocks and I guess what his teamates think probably what counts the most . As long as CP runs like hell on 9-14-09 , Im happy . If I had to choose one , give me # 44 . As far as OL-lines / Hogs ,,,, RB's make the OL as much as the OL makes the RB , Payton/ E. Campbell / Dickerson and B. Sanders made what most thought were avg. OL's look pretty damn good .

why is there a cowboy fan flaming these boards? I HATE cowboys.

back on the subject.

it was a different league back then...and I will be the first to admit that people were tougher.

But

I wonder what the weight differences and 40 time difference there are among D lineman compared to Riggo's superbowl years, to today with Portis. I can almost assure you that there is at least a 15 to 20 lbs weight difference in DL and about 2 tenths of a second 40 time difference if not more.

But yet, Riggo was a monster for his time. But if he were a back today, he'd be like an Alstott.

Ugh, here we go again as if it wasn't beaten to death in another thread. And yeah that horse is dead.

All this flub from 1 punt by a backup punter, and not even mentioning the other 32 other punts in that stadium by punters who WILL be on a roster this season did not even get close to the scoreboard.

If you would calm the hell down, you would notice that I was downplaying this scoreboard thing as a way to compare it to the whole Portis thing that you are obviously making into a big deal. I think the fans and the team has gotten used to some of the crazy stuff Portis tends to say and I would call it at most a minor nuisance. I don't consider the scoreboard thing for the Cowboys an off the field distraction (unlike TO, Pacman, etc., etc.). It's honestly more of a joke.

why is there a cowboy fan flaming these boards? I HATE cowboys.

back on the subject.

it was a different league back then...and I will be the first to admit that people were tougher.

But

I wonder what the weight differences and 40 time difference there are among D lineman compared to Riggo's superbowl years, to today with Portis. I can almost assure you that there is at least a 15 to 20 lbs weight difference in DL and about 2 tenths of a second 40 time difference if not more.

But yet, Riggo was a monster for his time. But if he were a back today, he'd be like an Alstott.


You can use that same logic in any sport to discredit any great player from previous era's. The only thing you can judge Riggo on is the era that he played in and in that era he was a champion, Super Bowl MVP and a HOFer. Portis will be lucky to achieve any of those.

well said celts32, Portis will be neither of those. But, the feud is a little ridiculous...and annoying, hopefully it won't affect his on field performance.

CP is a great Back, but has yet to win anything.
Put up or shut up, Riggo has done it..