I thought I'd open this back up because it was a good interview, and made me fall in love with CP all over again. TMI?
. Seriously though, here's a snippet of the transcript (thanks DC Sports Bog) speaking specifically to why wasn't Portis in the game at the end.
Brian Mitchell: Now Clinton, I understand what you just said, but do you understand why people are asking the question, why weren't you in there, because they see you as the main guy, the guy that they know can get things done
John Thompson: I damn sure saw it that way.
BM: And you're right, you probably couldn't have gotten there, I'm going to be honest, I thought the left side of the line was blown back too much for any running back to get in there, but do you understand why people are asking why you weren't in there?
JT: Exactly, and to B's point I'm yelling at the TV, Portis, Portis!!!'
Portis (to BM): I would have loved to be in, but you can't satisfy everybody. I mean, you're one of Portis's biggest critics.
BM: Exactly.
CP (begin rant): Week in and week out, it's some problem that you have with a decision that you think I made. I go out on the field and I give it everything I've got, bro. That's what I try to do. I'ma try to help the Washington Redskins as much as I can, as long as I can, and do whatever I can. When my number is not called, I'm not one to pout. Everybody want me to be a pouter. Everybody want me to be, 'Oh give me the ball.' They know I want the ball. Who don't know Clinton Portis want the ball? What you think, I shy away? (Shouting) Why do you think I block? Why do you think I run downfield? Because I want to be a part of any play that's called. If I didn't want the ball, I wouldn't be on the field. I wouldn't, I wouldn't go block when I don't get the ball, I'd look around and pout. When they call my number, I respond. If they don't call my number, there's nothing I can do but try to help my teammates and support my teammates, and that's what I do.
(The shouting ended after that speech, but the media criticism continued. Everything he says below is 100 percent accurate. The media's frown would have been turned 100 percent upside down this week had Betts scored. The "We Love CP at the goal line" chorus would have been a lot softer had Betts made it in.)
"When we win people give me credit for stuff that I didn't do, when we lose I'm gonna get blamed for stuff that I didn't do. So it don't matter....Now if Ladell would have scored, then the headlines would have been 'Ok Ladell finished off the game, great job, he should start next week.' Being that he didn't, now all of the sudden everybody for me. Just three weeks, ago, Ladell Betts should have been the starter for the Washington Redskins...
"It's not about who gets the press, who gets the headlines. I don't read the papers, I don't listen to sports talk, I don't listen to radio shows, I don't care what people say. All I do is go to work, I kick it with my teammates, I have fun with my teammates, I laugh and joke with them, and what they think is what matters to me. Nobody else. I don't care what they think."
His point about "Now if Ladell would have scored, then the headlines would have been 'Ok Ladell finished off the game, great job, he should start next week.' Being that he didn't, now all of the sudden everybody for me. Just three weeks, ago, Ladell Betts should have been the starter for the Washington Redskins..." is dead-on.