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Clinton Portis: The chip's backon his shoulder

July 29, 2007 12:35 am

BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH

ASHBURN--Clinton Portis walked slowly up the slight hill, helmet in hand. At the top, a few feet from the Redskins' training facility, there were several large plastic tubs filled with ice water.

The tubs looked like the small children's pools that you place in your backyard and use a garden hose to fill, except these were deeper and occupied by football players.

Portis, the Redskins' starting running back, stepped into the icy water and let out a long sigh.

"No room for you in here!" Portis joked with linebacker Marcus Washington, who was also looking for a quick cool-down. "Find your own pool."

Then Portis stretched both of his arms and smiled.

It was just the second day of training camp, but for Portis, this preseason has started much better than the way the last one ended.

In a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals last Aug. 13, Portis sprinted down the field to make a tackle after an interception. He hit Bengals cornerback Keiwan Ratliff, and then he went to the ground with a partially separated left shoulder.

And so began perhaps the least memorable season of Clinton Portis' career.

He missed the rest of the preseason because of the shoulder injury. He played through the pain in the opening game, but the shoulder kept him out of the Redskins' Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

On Nov. 12, Portis broke his right hand during the first quarter of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He ended his season with a career-low 523 yards on an average of 4.1 yards per carry.

"Three out of my four years I played with a chip on my shoulder," Portis said. "It's when I finally got comfortable and felt I arrived to elite status that I got relaxed and I ended up getting hurt. And all of a sudden everything I've done is forgotten about. Right now, I'm stepping out like a rookie. I have to prove to the world that I'm still dangerous."

Portis underwent offseason shoulder surgery, but that was not the most talked-about moment off his time away. Instead, Portis drew criticism for his comments about Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's alleged dog-fighting ring. Portis told a Virginia television station: "If that's what [Vick] wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business."

Portis later apologized for his comments, and this week he said he planned to steer clear of anymore controversial topics.

"I just have to mind my business," Portis said. "I can't fight no one else's battles. I'll keep Clinton Portis out of trouble. I'll keep Clinton Portis focused and I'll keep Clinton Portis on top of his game. Outside of that, you can't ask me about the next man. I don't know how no one's feeling. I don't know what nobody's going through. All I know is what's going on in Clinton Portis' life."

And in Clinton Portis' life, returning to form as an elite running back is a top priority. When Portis was injured last season, Ladell Betts stepped in admirably, rushing for 1,154 yards. That, Redskins running backs coach Earnest Byner said, is quietly motivating Portis.

"Clinton's working good," Byner said. "He's really interested in what we're doing and he's been asking a lot of good questions. You can see what this means to him on that field."

Of course, Portis is still not thrilled to be taking part in training camp. On Friday, he said he would rather it be a resort. He doesn't want to suffer another preseason injury and he doesn't want to wear down. Still, his teammates say he is not a sour grape.

"I know he's glad to be out there," Betts said. "Whenever an injury takes something away from you like that, you can't wait to get it back. He's definitely excited."

Redskins assistant head coach-offense Al Saunders said Antwaan Randle El will start the season as the No. 2 wide receiver, with Brandon Lloyd being the No. 3 target.

Rookie tight end Tyler Ecker suffered a groin injury in the morning practice and missed the afternoon session. Rookie linebacker H.B. Blades missed the second practice because of cramps. Guard Randy Thomas remains sidelined with a sore knee.

Today's 4 p.m. session is the first of two fan appreciation days. Practice starts at 4 p.m., but the gates will open at 2. Joe Gibbs is scheduled to address the crowd, and the Redskins marching band and cheerleaders are scheduled to perform.