Still Carrying the Load
Written by Clinton Portis, Tuesday September 22 2009
I don’t think I’ve ever been real interactive with you guys, the fans. That’s why I’m doing this blog. I want to share my thought process with people, why I am the way I am and why I do the things I do. To give people an outlook on me from a different perspective.
People always have questions and don’t get the answers. The answers they do get are more like generalizations from a lot of people who make assumptions. I am the only one who can answer probably about 85 percent of the questions about me.
Like when people say I’m not at the top of my game anymore, I can’t carry the load because I’m banged up. I have been around a long time, because I came into the league when I was 20. People don’t realize I’m still only 28. Banged up is different from hurt. I’ve been banged up a lot but I can still go out there and give you everything I’ve got.
The best season I ever had statistically was 1,591 yards. Last year I had about 1,491. That’s 100 off my best season. I’ll take that anytime.
Over the course of a 16-game season, if you can find someone that can perform at the level I perform at through all 16 games, I’d like to meet him. All backs are going to have bumps and bruises. For me it’s all about being consistent, and some backs get a bad rap for being banged up, although it happens to everyone during the season.
Are you going to tell me that LaDainian Tomlinson isn’t LT anymore? BrianWestbrook, just because he was banged up a couple years in a row at some point? Let me be the first to say that guy is going to be good this year.
As for me, if I don’t have a major injury I’ll always be at the top of my game. If I’m healthy I take me over anybody.
The true football fan knows what’s going on. There aren’t many running backs you can mention in the same breath as me and LaDainian Tomlinson. Adrian Peterson is the next legit back, he’s going to have an awesome career. A lot of guys have that one big year and they try to make him the next big thing. Larry Johnson had that one big year, but has he been consistent over the years? Someone is always stepping up, they have a big year or two, then disappear. So look in the record books. The record books don’t lie.
AP has his game, he’s one of the guys I like. He runs the ball the way it’s supposed to be run. Also Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams in Carolina and Chris Johnson down in Tennessee. One or two of them will be in the same class as LT or Clinton Portis in years to come. AP is in his own league right now.
I actually think I’m a better player now than I was when I was younger. I’m a more complete player. There’s nothing you can say that I can’t do. I put my hands among the best in the league right now. I don’t get a lot of catches because I’m always blocking. It’s a give and take thing, when I’m giving the QB time to throw it, I can’t be out there to catch it.
I feel like I’m the complete package. I can go out and play punt team if you need me to.
When I’m done I’ll look back and appreciate the grind, knowing I put in some real work, and my teammates. They were always there for me, helping me get through whatever. No matter who was on the line in front of me, or lined up next to me, they gave all they had and that’s all you can ask for.
Clinton Portis is a running back with the Washington Redskins. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.clintonportis.com. Find him on Twitter @26clintonportis.
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