Shanahan: Portis will be allowed to test the market (updated: Portis officially released)

Oh, we might be able to get one starter from the draft, if we are lucky maybe two...what free agents do you think we could get that would make this team better?

With all the holes we have there's bound to be plenty of upgrades out there in what should be a deep FA market.

i don't know if thats very true, torain has had more injuries in his first 3 years than cp had in his whole career, that has to be accounted for when mentioning "wear and tear". i like atv, just not as a feature back, hopefully he can handle the load cause it looks like he is gonna get it as of now.

Only 4 times in his pro career as Clinton Portis ever started 16 games. 3 of those times he's been with us. The other years here he has suffered major injuries and missed multiple games. He's had 7 seasons here, and 3 of them have ended in injured reserve. We'd probably feel different if CP was just getting dinged up with minor things, but each time he goes down its major.

Another thing I'm surprised that nobody is talking about, was the fact that the severe concussion CP suffered in 2009 nearly ended his career. There is no use linking articles, as there are many articles explaining how Portis had one heck of a time getting cleared to finally go back to light workouts, and he also did a few interviews where he certainly sounded like a player who was done.

Portis i think defied the odds after coming back from that major concussion in 2009. Many felt that he should not have tried to comeback (a la Brian Westbrook) and risk his long-term health, but he lasted only a few games before going out on IR again. Portis has to look hard in the mirror i think and decide what is important to him. If he is ok risking his long term health for maybe 1 more season of football, then nobody can stop him. Its his right. But he could very well decide to retire with his health and legacy intact and nobody would fault him.

For what its worth, Portis is apparantly telling some of his twitter followers that he has been informed that he will be released, possibly before the day is over.

With all the holes we have there's bound to be plenty of upgrades out there in what should be a deep FA market.

The shopping list is huge...which of these free agents do you anticipate we sign to improve the team?

2011 NFL Free Agents (http://www.footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html)

I hope he gets a better offer and leaves...time to turn the page.

Exactly. I think it's time for the Redskins to move on, and it's time for CP to move on.

I'm a huge CP fan, this man carried this offense on his shoulders for years. He has been a premier back and a household name. With that said it is time for him to call it a career, as Bob Hope used to say "thanks for the memories". HTTR Mr Portis!

Well I'll certainly miss Clinton. No doubt about it, I loved what the guy did here, specifically in 2005, 2007 and the first half of 2008. When he was good, the Redskins were pretty good. Thanks for the memories CP, but I agree with most others that it is time to move on. The guy had a heck of a career here, imo, I would have liked to see him break the rushing record (Riggo was before my time), but it is what it is. Best of luck to him.

It is a shame it has come to this. The guy was one of the best Skins of the post Gibbs I/ title era, but he is a used up commodity in DC with a questionable line still. His departure also puts another wrinkle with our first round pick. Do we actually go RB in the first round? I know Portis had to go, but now we are in need of two key components in our offensive backfield, a QB and RB. I like Torain and Williams as a tandem, but not sure they can carry the load as a feature back if the other one gets hurt.

It is a shame it has come to this. The guy was one of the best Skins of the post Gibbs I/ title era, but he is a used up commodity in DC with a questionable line still. His departure also puts another wrinkle with our first round pick. Do we actually go RB in the first round? I know Portis had to go, but now we are in need of two key components in our offensive backfield, a QB and RB. I like Torain and Williams as a tandem, but not sure they can carry the load as a feature back if the other one gets hurt.

Im not a fan of this years RB draft selection. I am also not a fan of KW. I dont value him if it is based on his pass catching ability like Coach used him for in situations. Torrain would be a nice spell back if we can find a primary back -hes better at that than KW.
It be great if CP would stick around 1 more year at least- granted he would have to take a humungous pay cut and sign something low like $1 mill a year. I'd hate if he thought he could go to NE and get a taste of winning. But CP and torrain could be functionable but having said that, both are injury prone. Riggins record could be broken but we know diesel will always be our GOAT.
The main thing about having so much vacancy for talent I think is we could lure some good talent to try out and practice squad b/c opportunity is here.

Great football player when he was young and healthy.

He deserves to go to a really good team that needs a solid veteran backup due to the fact that he still has a talent that many NFL running backs just don't have.

The man can block. It's a unique quality for a RB nowadays.