Posted on 24 March 2011. Tags: 'more, 2011, Depth Chart, Doghouse, Eight Times, Fantasy Analysis, Flier, Handful, Hard Knocks, Jets, Joe Mcknight, Ladainian Tomlinson, McKnight, Nfl Owners, playing, Playing Time, Reggie Bush, Rex Ryan, Ryan, Shonn Greene, starters, time, Training Camp, Versatile Player, Week 17, Work Ethic
Joe McKnight was in Rex Ryan’s doghouse for most of 2010. Anyone who watched “Hard Knocks” could see that Ryan wasn’t pleased with what he saw from his rookie running back during training camp. Going into week 17, McKnight had touched the ball just eight times on offense and gained 36 yards. But week 17 may have changed everything for McKnight. With the Jets resting their starters, he carried the ball an astounding 32 times for 158 yards. He also caught two passes for 15 more yards.
McKnight wasn’t used much during the playoffs, but Ryan said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in New Orleans that he will count on McKnight more next season.
“He’s earned a bigger role for us, I don’t think there’s any doubt,” Ryan said. FANTASY ANALYSIS: McKnight is an explosive, versatile player who was unfairly tagged as the next Reggie Bush at USC. In that aspect, he didn’t live up to his potential. But he can certainly be a valuable change-of-back back. Now, with Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson ahead of him on the depth chart, McKnight is worth just a lowly flier late in drafts right now. But a handful of carries per game at the start of next season could turn into more if an injury strikes one of the veterans. But McKnight shouldn’t take this talk for granted. He needs to work hard during the offseason — his work ethic has been questioned in the past — or he will erase the current good will he has created for himself.
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Posted on 01 March 2011. Tags: Career, Clinton, Clinton Portis, Depth Chart, Fantasy Analysis, Five Games, Franchise Record, Game, Groin Injury, Hall Of Famer, John Riggins, Money, Nfl Team, Philadelphia, Portis, Rb, Redskins, relationship, release, Running Back, Three Seasons, Torn Groin Muscle, Two Seasons, Washington Redskins
It is very unlikely that you will see an NFL team pay million to a running back who has played in just 13 games in the past two seasons, has run for just three touchdowns and less than 750 yards during that time, and will turn 30 before the scheduled start of the following season.
And it won’t be happening to the Washington Redskins. They cut Clinton Portis on Monday, ending their seven-year relationship, one that left Portis just 648 yards shy of one of Hall of Famer John Riggins’ franchise record.
Portis’ contract called for the Redskins to pay him million over the next three seasons, including .254 million for 2011. But the team decided that would be way too much cash spent on a running back with 2,230 carries in his career.
Portis played in just five games in 2010. A torn groin muscle ruined his hopes of a more productive year. FANTASY ANALYSIS: I don’t think Portis is done as he looked impressive at times when he was actually playing last season. He suffered the groin injury in week four at Philadelphia, but he looked surprisingly fresh in that game before going down. He’ll have to find a place, probably as a backup, for much less money. Keiland Williams, James Davis and Ryan Torain remain on Washington’s RB depth chart. The Redskins will certainly be looking to add somebody to the mix.
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