Clinton Portis hopes to break team rushing record

Still hoping to break the franchise rushing record, Redskins running back Clinton Portis said Tuesday he has "no doubts" he will return this season despite a severe injury that is expected to sideline him at least a month.

During his weekly appearance on 106.7 The Fan's The Mike Wise Show with Holden Kushner, Portis said his groin injury is improving daily. And Portis is motivated to return, at least in part, because of goals that could be within his grasp, including reaching the 10,000-yard plateau and breaking Hall of Famer John Riggins' Redskins rushing mark.

"I'm gonna be running the ball again this year," Portis said. "Now, I can't control what kind of uniform it's in. But I would hope it's in the Redskins' uniform.

"But I got no doubt that I'll recover from this injury and I'll be back out to help my teammates. Unless something miraculous or something crazy happens, knock on wood. But just as far as this groin injury and me coming back to the game of football, I think I'll be fine."

The nine-year veteran has rushed for 9,891 yards with Denver and Washington, including 195 yards this season on 49 carries (a 4.0-yard average). Riggins is the Redskins' all-time leading rusher with 7,472 yards. Portis is second on the list with 6,792 yards in seven seasons with Washington.

"There's a lot of motivation to get back in there and hit 10,000," Portis said. "You don't come this close to drop me off here. I think for myself, I'll be there, man. It's no ifs ands or buts about it...I wanted Emmitt Smith numbers. Now, just being able to get 10,000 and join elite company would be a great [accomplishment], so I'm looking forward to it."

And then there's the matter of trying to eclipse Riggins, who is 680 yards ahead of Portis.

"I think that'd be even better," Portis said. "To be the leading rusher in a storied franchise right now, it's exciting, just the chase alone, being that it's been held for so long. You see the love that he still get for having that record? And I think he's great in the community.

"It's hard to have that kind of tenure with one franchise, where you have an opportunity to break a John Riggins record, you know? When you say, 'John Riggins,' you thinking Super Bowls, toughness, everything that he instilled and everything that he lived for. So, for myself, to even be in that company, you know, one, two or however it pan out, to even be in that company is a great [accomplishment]."

History indicates that running backs who have carried heavy workloads suffer major drop-offs in production after 30. Portis, in football terms, is an old 29 because of the number of carries he's had and how hard he has run and blocked throughout his career. And Portis has a history of injuries.

After learning he had suffered the third major injury of his career, Portis said he never thought his career was over. "Nah, man, I don't think like that. I know with the treatment and the focus and desire to get back on the field, I'll be back. I don't worry about, 'Oh, it's over.' "

Portis, however, declined to offer a timeline for his return. The Redskins said he would be sidelined at least four to six weeks. "I don't know," he said. "I never thought nine days later, I'd still be sore."

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(washingtonpost.com)