I Dislike Your Favorite Team

In a season of injuries, apathetic play and bad breaks, #46 Ladell Betts has been the most reliable player for the Redskins offense this year. A career backup, the hard-charging 225 pound Iowa product has admirably filled in for injured star Clinton Portis.

Betts has rushed for 100 yards in back-to-back games, including a career-high 155 vs. an Atlanta D that was stacked to stop him. He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry, picking up 643 yards in 5 starts. He also has excellent hands, snaring 40 this year, one behind team leader Santana Moss. 7.5 yards per catch is excellent for an RB.

The Redskins were quick to sign Betts to a contract extension. Although terms were not disclosed, one imagines Dan "The Schneider" Snyder splashed some cash and promised to fix the faucet tomorrow.

Betts chose to re-sign with the wobbly Redskins franchise, despite the opportunities he might have elsewhere to start. If the Redskins had a better team, Betts would have had more TD opportunities and yards while killing the clock with a lead.

In a world of T.O.'s, Betts's loyalty is refreshing. Speaking of his decision to re-sign, Betts said, "They were the first team to give me the opportunity to play in the NFL, so I'm loyal to that. I've had nothing but a good experience so far since I've been here ... Hopefully, we'll have one of the best 1-2 punches in the NFL. We're here for the long haul, and we're trying to get this thing turned around, so hopefully me and Clinton together can take care of the backfield."

His power running is reminiscent of Badcock favorite #48 Stephen Davis, another runner who would rather run over you than around you.

Ah yes, the long haul. The long haul. Besides Campbell's emergence and Sean Taylor's wolverinish play (the animal, not the X-Man), the Washington season has been bitterly disappointing.

More fun on that note when I produce my upcoming excoriation on the Worst in the NFL.

Here's a clue: the eytmology of excoriation is "to peel off skin."