Portis on Alexander, Focus, Weightlifting

More highlights from Clinton Portis's weekly appearance on yesterday's John Thompson Show on ESPN 980. And for the record, Portis seemed to be accusing The Post of taking his post-game words out of context I believe his beef is actually with the ESPN 980 guys, who misunderstood what I had written. But whatever. The main point is, he seemed very on-board with the Alexander signing, which hadn't yet been completed at the time.

On Shaun Alexander's arrival: "Shaun was a league MVP, so of course he got all the talent that's needed to play this game if he was just league MVP a couple years back. And, you know, all of the sudden people throw you out. You don't get league MVP by not being able to sustain in this NFL, so [as] for him coming to the Washington Redskins, I really think he can help this team.

"You know, if it's a soft mentality that they say he's got, I think coming to this team will change that, because on this team, the guys on this team are gonna hold you accountable for stepping up and coming out with heart. They're not gonna settle for less. So I think Shaun's coming here to prove he can still play. If they sign him he's got some things to prove. He's gonna have to get the people in the locker room to believe in him before you can get the outside world, so he gonna have to win some guys over in the locker room but at the same time, if he come here and do his job, that'll be easy to do."

On sharing carries: I honestly think Shaun know the system inside out. You know, he won the league MVP, so he probably can come in and help me, he can show me some things that maybe I don't see. So I'm sure he can help me improve my game, and as far as me and him interacting, I think it'll be the same as me and Ladell. You know, there's times when you're getting off the ground slowly and looking to the sideline, you know, [you're] not looking for a thumb's up, like 'Good job!' you're looking for help. So I'll teach him the code, the signals.....Keep your helmet on. I'm looking for you to come in and play right away. He already know the system, so when I look from the sideline, you jog right on the field and let's go."

On whom he rooted for in Browns-Giants: "When it comes to the Giants, Cowboys or Eagles playing, I always prefer for the other team to win. It don't matter what kind of dogfight we're gonna be in....So when you get a team to put them in a position to lose a game, I'm always happy for them to lose, and I'm sure they never want to see us win either."

On why he's playing so well: "Losing Sean and all of the sudden having to adjust my mind to it, to a guy who respected and gave everything he had to this game, so you know my preparation for this game, the mindset, the appreciation for the game, that's always first. Going to work Wednesday through Saturday with a positive attitude instead of trying to figure out a way to get out of it, you know? Going out and whatever's asked of me to do, going out and doing that to the fullest of my capabilities. Getting in the weight room this offseason also was a major role. Sticking around, being in the weight room., wanting to be a big part of this team's success. And I think the guys around me, to see me around all offseason, to see me working out, it still shocked people every week. They come in like, 'Who is that? What are you doing in the weight room?' "

On his focus comments: "You know, the way the quote came out, that's not how I said it. But I don't understand how people not used to that....The part about us buying into the outside world patting us on the back was correct, the part about me saying, 'Oh coach let us get away with everything this week...' I mean, you know, they just ran with the quotes. They always put it the way they want to put it. I said coach got on more guys than normal as far as the Thursday-Friday practices, and we had a great practice on Saturday, probably our best practice on Saturday this year. But as usual they take it and run with it man, so I'll leave it alone."

(washingtonpost.com)