Because Clinton Portis is rarely boring, here are his highlights from his radio appearance on 106.7 The Fan with Mike Wise and Holden Kushner:
On why he didn’t carry the ball in the second half vs. St. Louis (he actually carried once): I have no idea…. We had to find a way to win the game no matter who was carrying the ball. They decided to stay with Ryan and we didn’t get it done as a team.
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On if it had to do with his wrist, as Mike Shanahan said: You can ask coach Shanahan that. He said it. I think I’ll be fine. But they just didn’t call my number, bro. I can’t go into it and go against the grain. Everyone for the last three weeks knows my wrist hurt. I was good. As a team we have to find a way to win.
On if he fell on purpose on his 27-yard run: I did fall on purpose. If you look at it, five Rams were behind me and no Redskins. All week long we were coached to sacrifice yardage for the ball. Atogwe was a known stripper…. to continue to fight for three extra yards in a situation where we’re trying to get momentum … I was trying to move the chains.
On if his wrist having bothered him for three weeks caused him to go down: All week long in practice I’d been carrying the ball with two hands downfield. In the game it was the first time I tried to run the ball in my right hand alone and I’m not gonna risk it. I wasn’t going to risk someone grabbing my arm or snatching my arm … all of a sudden it’s a turnover.
On if Mike Shanahan talked to him about the 27-yard run and had a problem with it: I have no idea if he had a problem. … You ought to ask Coach Shanahan that.
On if he felt he was penalized for that in the second half: Hey, that’s life. There’s a lot about life that nobody understands. Welcome to my world.
On his role going forward: I have no idea. I think I’m going and when my number is called upon that’s when I’ll job on the field and try to help the team. If not, I’ll cheer on my teammates and … if we win I’ll smile like everyone else.
On a perception that he’s soft because he went down (not sure who’s writing or saying that, but it was the question): People believe what they want to believe. If you go and turn on the film any Sunday, whether it’s big or small if he’s in my vicinity I’m trying to give him all 214 pounds of me. If you ever see me back down to any man standing on the field, you’ll know my time is up. …I’ll continue to play and leave all the doubts and naysayers to believe what they want to believe.
On if this feels like the same ol’, same ol’: The attitude is different. The team morale and camaraderie is different. We’re 1-0 in the division and we have an opportunity to go to 2-0 and that could put us in first place in the division. At the end of the year you come out of this league with five or six losses. Having two right now only put us in position to we know we can’t lose later. We have a tough part of our schedule coming up… If we cut out the penalties and turnovers, we could easily be 3-0. We’re not, we’re 1-2. I don’t think defenses are stopping us, it’s us stopping ourselves.
On if he anticipates being the starting RB Sunday: I have no idea, bro. I’ll always feel like the No. 1. … For what I bring to my team and the excitement or playing level I give on the field is always better than the next guy.
On how important it is to be the all-time leading rusher: For going on a year and a half I’ve been in that position. It’s been a topic of conversation…. You go back to Week 1, I got MVP after our victory against Dallas. Go back to Week 2 and it was how close and if we had won, who would have been offensive MVP? All of a sudden it’s like, ‘Are you going to be a starting running back in the NFL?’ I don’t think in a week from Houston to St. Louis, my play diminished or fell off the map.
On if he has to bite his tongue about using him more: I don’t have to say anything to anybody, bro. You now 26 is on your roster, use me how you choose to.
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