Clinton Portis says his statements were "the truth"

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis Tuesday stood behind his controversial comments about female reporters in men's locker rooms, saying in a radio interview that his previous remarks were "the truth."

Toward the end of his weekly appearance on 106.7 The Fan's "The Mike Wise Show with Holden Kushner," Kushner shared his personal feelings on the controversy and asked Portis whether he had put the situation behind him. In last week's interview, Portis made statements that prompted a rebuke from the NFL and action by the Redskins. Portis spoke with head coach Mike Shanahan about his remarks and issued a statement of apology through the team.

On Tuesday, Portis painted himself as a victim in the situation and was not contrite.

"I think people going always have negativity, man," Portis said. "People wish me ... when people don't wish you the best, there's always something that they gonna find. You know? I think everything that come out of my mouth is the truth. Whether people like it or not, it's always the truth. With the comments that I made that you didn't agree to, they were true. And some people can't stand the truth, and some people do. At the same time that you know me, if you know my sense of humor, you know the way I talk, you know you getting the truth, and you getting the humorous side of me."

Portis had this to say about his previous statements that female reporters would likely "look at 53 men's packages" in NFL locker rooms:

"I don't think it's that serious," Portis said. "I think there's more to life, ah, going on that you can complain about and make the topic of discussion or point out and have and all the talk shows ... besides the stuff that I say out of my mouth. So for the people who don't understand, I'm never throwing anybody under the bus or I'm never bashing anybody. I think I tell the truth. I speak from the heart and it's up to you to assess it. If you really don't want to hear me talk, then you can always tune out of this station or tune out of my interview.

"If you see me come across, just turn the TV off or turn the radio off. You don't have to listen. I think every day is going to be topic for headlines that, somehow, some way, they gonna take my quote and put it into a context that I didn't say it in. I think if people would have listened to that whole interview, they would have seen I didn't say anything about the woman reporter and I never ... I just was speaking in general about reporters in the locker room. So, I mean, that's over and done with. And for myself, I just won't comment on matters that I don't know anything about. And I'm going to continue to mind my business and go on about my day and not lose any sleep. And when I get with my teammates laugh about what I want to laugh about and take the criticism that I'm gonna take. ... I've been a topic of criticism since I've been here, so I'll be all right."

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(washingtonpost.com)