Portis is a double edged sword

Theres one big thing I dont like about Portis, and that just so happens to be exactly what I like about him. Confused? You should be. Portis plays harder than any other RB in the league. He throws his body everywhere as hard as he can. This helps us win games, but I'm pretty sure its no big coincidence Portis has had so many shoulder injuries when hes shouldercharging blitzing linemen. I'm worried that his utter disregaurd for his own body is going to cut his playing years short and also make him likely to miss at least a few games a year. Betts should help by splitting the carries, but how much is the question.

I'm not too concerned really about Portis playing hard. My bigger concern would be if he started playing tentative for fear of getting injured again.

I think any runningback who gives his all like Portis is going to get hurt. I think we need to sit him during the preseason, and focus on a third back.

he's had one shoulder injury right?

Portis is a complete animal and I do worry about his longevity but that guy will never change the way he plays and you would be messing with his greatness to try and protect him from himself. I think this year was just one of those years, but I feel the concern. Players break down for good in this league out of nowhere.

he's had one shoulder injury right?

no, hes had 2 shoulder surgeries (that I know of) and many more shoulder injuries that have not been operated on, such as the one that made him miss games in the beginning of the season, and the stinger he got last year that made him sit out when he shoulder charged a blitzing linebacker.

And just to clarify, I do not want Portis to change his play, I just don't like what the long term results are.

well with the contract Betts got expect his carries to go up once Portis is back.... and as playing harder I can put LT, LJ and even tiki Barber name before portis, portis as barber have the hearth but not the body

well with the contract Betts got expect his carries to go up once Portis is back.... and as playing harder I can put LT, LJ and even tiki Barber name before portis, portis as barber have the hearth but not the body

Can't speak for Tiki and LJ, but LT is actually great at minimizing how much contact he takes, because he gets so low.

There was actually a lot of coverage of this recently with him breaking the record, LT himself admitted that he used to seek out defenders and try to bowl them over to get his team pumped and prove to the defense how tough he was, but he quickly realized the toll that was taking on him, and started thinking about how to get low and avoid the brunt of the hit, or get out of bounds.

When you think about it, it's true -- when was the last time you saw a LB really lay the lumber on LT?

He plays very tough against the blitz--he seems to take great pride in flattening bigger guys. I don't get to watch LT and LJ in that regard--do they block like that? Othewise, sure, those guys are seriously tough and durable guys. I think the first post was pointing out how Portis plays without the ball. He got hurt in preseason takcling a DB after an INT--it was a wicked hit, though not the smartest thing to do. BUt that's the way he plays.

Having Betts will help the durability of Portis, no doubt. And vice versa.