Arkie
10-06-2005, 07:42 PM
Portis: Return To Denver Will 'Be Like Hollywood' (http://cbs4denver.com/broncos/local_story_279174233.html)
By Joseph White, AP Sports Writer
(AP) ASHBURN, Va. Clinton Portis wore oversized, retro, mahogany-colored sunglasses.
It was so hard not to laugh.
Eventually, everyone did. Including Portis, who is getting prepared to face the team with whom he began his career.
"It's going to be like Hollywood," said Portis, explaining his choice of eyewear. "Everyone's going to be watching, so it's time to put on a show."
The Washington Redskins running back was in classic form Thursday discussing Sunday's game against his old team, the Denver Broncos.
The game is Portis' first against the Broncos since the blockbuster trade that sent cornerback Champ Bailey to Denver after the 2003 season. Portis' answers were truly sportsmanlike when asked whether he would be out to prove something to the team that sent him packing after back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons.
"It's not about me. It's not about Champ," Portis said. "It's about us as teams, trying to advance and do better. ... They didn't feel they needed me. It's not the first time I felt unneeded or unwanted, so I'm all right."
Twice in his career -- once with Denver and last year with Washington -- Portis has put on a boxer's title belt after a big game and proclaimed himself the heavyweight running back champion of the world. Asked if he would do that again Sunday, he said the belt is no longer part of his repertoire. He said he put it on last year only because a friend gave it to him on the sideline.
"It's retired. It won't be out. It's useless to even look for it," Portis said. "That was Denver. Denver's behind me. I've got to come up with something else."
Portis was a scoring machine in Denver, rushing for 29 touchdowns over two seasons, but he has only five in one-plus season with the Redskins -- and none this year. How is dealing with it? Well, he's convinced himself that he did score last week in the second quarter against Seattle, when officials ruled him down at the 1-yard line.
"It didn't go down as a touchdown, but I did get the ball across the plane," Portis said. "So that's one under my belt. The refs didn't give it to me, but for me it helped my confidence knowing that I crossed that goal line. I didn't get to do an end zone dance, but I was in the end zone."
Finally, Portis addressed the perennial question about Denver running backs. Are they really that good? Or are they just products of a good scheme?
"Maybe it is the scheme," Portis said. "But my confidence is going to stay sky-high and keep believing it was me."
By Joseph White, AP Sports Writer
(AP) ASHBURN, Va. Clinton Portis wore oversized, retro, mahogany-colored sunglasses.
It was so hard not to laugh.
Eventually, everyone did. Including Portis, who is getting prepared to face the team with whom he began his career.
"It's going to be like Hollywood," said Portis, explaining his choice of eyewear. "Everyone's going to be watching, so it's time to put on a show."
The Washington Redskins running back was in classic form Thursday discussing Sunday's game against his old team, the Denver Broncos.
The game is Portis' first against the Broncos since the blockbuster trade that sent cornerback Champ Bailey to Denver after the 2003 season. Portis' answers were truly sportsmanlike when asked whether he would be out to prove something to the team that sent him packing after back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons.
"It's not about me. It's not about Champ," Portis said. "It's about us as teams, trying to advance and do better. ... They didn't feel they needed me. It's not the first time I felt unneeded or unwanted, so I'm all right."
Twice in his career -- once with Denver and last year with Washington -- Portis has put on a boxer's title belt after a big game and proclaimed himself the heavyweight running back champion of the world. Asked if he would do that again Sunday, he said the belt is no longer part of his repertoire. He said he put it on last year only because a friend gave it to him on the sideline.
"It's retired. It won't be out. It's useless to even look for it," Portis said. "That was Denver. Denver's behind me. I've got to come up with something else."
Portis was a scoring machine in Denver, rushing for 29 touchdowns over two seasons, but he has only five in one-plus season with the Redskins -- and none this year. How is dealing with it? Well, he's convinced himself that he did score last week in the second quarter against Seattle, when officials ruled him down at the 1-yard line.
"It didn't go down as a touchdown, but I did get the ball across the plane," Portis said. "So that's one under my belt. The refs didn't give it to me, but for me it helped my confidence knowing that I crossed that goal line. I didn't get to do an end zone dance, but I was in the end zone."
Finally, Portis addressed the perennial question about Denver running backs. Are they really that good? Or are they just products of a good scheme?
"Maybe it is the scheme," Portis said. "But my confidence is going to stay sky-high and keep believing it was me."