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News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

Clinton Portis Media Session

On his reaction to being on IR and being done for the year:

"It is something that happens. I think as far as the team, they want me to get fully healthy, recover, go out and get everything fixed that is wrong. I understand the decision."

On if his shoulder has ever been right since the opening preseason game:

"It was good enough to play but at the same time I think I protected the shoulder and tried to stay away from getting hit. I really never could jam or have any quick twitch movements. I just knew my limits."

On if the surgeries were something that he wanted or if he had to be convinced to do them:

"They had to convince me because I don't ever want to have to go under a knife. I always feel that time will heal everything. They said that it probably wouldn't heal right and that my finger would be shorter if I didn't have the surgery. I decided to hurry up and get it out of the way."

On if he thought he was going to go on IR with his hand or if it was the shoulder that finally did it:

"It was the hand. My shoulder was fine. Even if my hand got healed I still had to carry the balls and balance myself. That is the hand I usually throw down on the ground to balance myself. I think it was just coach not wanting to take any chance of me re-aggravating it going into the off-season. They told me the sooner the better."

On if he was going to go on IR without the shoulder surgery:

"I don't know. I am still trying to get out of the shoulder surgery. It was just a decision that they had to make. They did not want to take a chance."

On if he feels that he would still be going on IR if they were 6-3 and not 3-6:

"I think I would be in the same situation if we were 6-3. It still would be a problem with the hand. All season long I new that the doctor wanted to look at my shoulder after the season to see how far I could go with it. It has been bothering me but I was still out playing with it. I knew in the back of my head that it was going to come down to it and I just tried to push through it. If we would have been 6-3 we would have probably been in the same situation."

On how frustrating this season has been for him personally:

"If it would have happened in earlier years I probably would have been frustrated and upset, wondering why and questioning this and that. I know my responsibilities. I am older, much wiser, more mature and understand the business of the game. I had four great years as a running back with no injuries and only being banged up with nothing major. I didn't miss many games, was on the field and played at a level that most people don't play at. It is only a matter of time before that catches up with any running back. Fortunately for me it is minor things that can be repaired and won't linger into next season that I can recover from. It could have been a knee or something major. I could have broken my neck when they twisted my whole body around. It could have been worse. I just look at the positive side of it. I feel like Ladell (Betts, RB, #46), T.J. (Duckett, RB, #36) and Rock (Cartwright, RB, #31) are going to have a golden opportunity to carry this team and show what they have. They have all been waiting on this chance and now they have it. I believe in them and feel that everything is going to be ok."

On if he worries that all the injuries are due to the amount of carries he has been getting in his career:

"It is football. In football you are going to have nicks and bruises. It is only a matter of time. You play long enough and it is going to happen. If I ran out of bounds every play I am sure I would be a lot healthier. At the same time I would be getting bashed for running out of bounds. You can't win in the situation. It is going to happen. My time is going to come to an end one day. Before it does, I want to get the most out of this game."

On Jason Campbell (QB, #17):

"Jason has been waiting for this opportunity and he has finally gotten it. You can't fault Mark (Brunell, QB, #8). At no point should Mark ever feel that it is his fault. It was us as a team. The pressure that Mark had, if Jason comes out and has that same pressure put on him there will be another quarterback out there in no time. Everyone is happy for Jason. He has to understand that this is a business and that he has to come in and do what is expected of him, encourage his team, and find a way to win games. It is not time for the Washington Redskins to lay down and toss in the season because I am on IR and because Jason Campbell is starting. He still has to go out and win games and I talked to Jason about that."

On if he has any messages for Ladell Betts (RB, #46):

"Just continue doing what you are doing. I talk to Ladell every day. Just continue to have fun and stay positive. He is a hard worker and runner. Everything is going to be alright for him."

On his confidence level in T.J. Duckett (RB, #36):

"T.J. had success in Atlanta and it was just a matter of getting an opportunity. He has been waiting. Anytime you ask somebody to sit and he wasn't dressing and was not getting involved in the games, it can be frustrating. I think T.J. handled it real well coming into this situation with me and Ladell (Betts, RB, #46) already being here and him not getting many opportunities to step on the field. Now that he has his opportunity he has to roll with it."

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