Clinton Portis
Clinton Portis The Associated Press is reporting that Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis unleashed a load of frustration toward coach Jim Zorn on Tuesday, criticizing the rookie coach for giving inconsistent messages.

In his weekly radio appearance on WTEM-AM, Portis let his frustrations be known about his lack of playing time in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Pro-Bowl running back was removed from the game after the first series of the second half.

"Either you feel like you need to sever ties with me, split ties with me," Portis said. "But don't sit here and throw me out like I don't pay attention, like I don't know what's going on, like I'm making mistakes, like I'm the problem."

Portis is third in the league in rushing with 1,260 yards, however, had only 11 carries for 32 yards Sunday. The Redskins running back had a strong start to the season
with five straight 120-yard games from week 4 to week 8. Things have changed as of late. Though Portis has not missed any games, he has barely practiced over the last few weeks because of injuries to his knee, ribs and neck.

On Monday Zorn said that he did not use Portis for most of the second half against the Ravens because Portis' lack of practice time had finally caught up to him. Zorn went on to say that he felt Portis stayed in to block too long on several occasions in the first half when he should have went out for a pass.

The Redskins instead went to back-up Ladell Betts because Zorn felt he was in better position to handle the pass plays.

Portis did not agree with his coach's assessment.

"Outside of Jim Zorn and the coaches on that team and maybe the quarterbacks, I guarantee you I know our system better than anybody else," Portis said. "I guarantee you when we go into blitz pickup, I don't miss my man."