Clinton Portis says that he would have been a defensive back

Clinton Portis was one of the best running backs in the history of the Washington Redskins franchise. He is currently second for the Redskins and 30th in the NFL for career rushing yards. Despite all this success he had in his career, he still wishes that he would have picked a different position as he was coming into the league.

“If I had to do it over, I would, hands down,” Portis said in an interview. “I would have stuck with DB or I would have stuck with the safety position, you know, playing corner back or playing safety, because the running back position is so devalued.”

Portis does have a point. Not to mention the lifespan of running backs is very low. According to a study, the average player is in the NFL for 3.3 years. Running backs last for just 2.57 years. The running back’s life span is the lowest in the NFL and for good reason. They are constantly getting pounded by linebackers and defensive linemen who have 50 pounds on them. Rushing between the tackles takes its toll on the body. Consequently, this shortens their production level and career length.

Portis also argues that running backs are more or less expendable in the NFL. This is because of the common trend that NFL teams have adopted is a running back by committee offense.

“I think the running back position has gone to running back by committee,” Portis would go on to say. “You don’t need a running back that’s tough… You can give a running back 12 to 15 carries, then you got somebody else coming in on third down, you got another guy coming in for passes; you’ve got so many running backs that it’s able to be devalued.

This kind of makes sense. After all, why would a team pay an aging running back for past production, when they can get three younger players all at a discount who can produce about the same when combined.

The most recent example of this is Lesean McCoy being shipped to Buffalo in a shocking trade. The Eagles now have gotten rid of the aging McCoy who would come with a giant contract whom they think is more or less replaceable.

One of the most famous examples of this comes from one of the best running backs in the history of the NFL to spend the last two years of his career sharing touches with Shonn Greene for the New York Jets. LaDainian Tomlinson spent this first nine years of his career with the San Diego Chargers. But following the 2009 season, where Tomlinson did not break 1,000 yards for the first time in his career, the Chargers got rid of the running back who is currently number five on the all-time rushing yards list.

So to Clinton Portis’ point, running backs in the NFL are kind of expendable. Even the great ones. I don’t blame him for wanting to play a different position. Especially something like DB, where you use your speed and athletic ability to bat down balls or get interceptions instead of crushing your body into 300 pound defensive linemen as a running back. The next 10 years should be telling as to what the future holds for running backs in the NFL. But for now, players like Lesean McCoy will have to deal with being shipped around from team to team at the end of their careers.


(fansided.com)