The Portis Effect

[12thMan]

A couple of things worth pointing out. Both Betts and Cartwright said in the WP they felt Portis was entitled to his opinion, but they totally disagreed with his statement. Betts went on to say there is no way you can simulate real game speed in practice, there's no substitute for pre-season. That being said, I have to beleive at the end of the day these guys are professionals and wouldn't let a comment like that sidetrack them or the entire team for that matter.

I do believe, however, the bad play on our part was because we came out flat. I do think they are starting to believe the hype about this season and more than anything else this is what's really bugging Joe Gibbs. He'll never say it in public. But these guys read the papers, they listen to ESPN, they see the money that's been spent to upgrade the team in the off season, and I have to think they have become slightly over confident. The only good thing is it's still preseason, so a good butt whoopin means nothing come September 11.

I think Gibbs biggest challenge this year, besides injuries, will be not to allow this team to believe their own press. The best thing that happened to them last year was perhaps the comments of Sean Salisbury and others that counted us out.