Portis might skip workouts
January 29
Washington Times
"Appearing at the Tampa Convention Center on Wednesday to promote next month's Pro Bowl, Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis said he and coach Jim Zorn are on the same page but was noncommittal about participating in the team's offseason workout program.
"I'm going to play it by ear," he said. "I'm going to be taking my time. I know I'm winding down. I'm going to take my time and make the decision best for me to help carry this team."
After signing an extension last year that guaranteed him at least $15.7 million through 2010, Portis was present for the full schedule of organized team activities.
Portis will make his second Pro Bowl appearance Feb. 7 and first since coming to the Redskins in 2004. He finished fourth in the NFL with 1,487 rushing yards but clashed with Zorn once on the sideline and criticized him during a radio appearance after being benched in a loss at Baltimore.
Nagging injuries diminished Portis' production during the Redskins' 2-6 second half. For the season, he accounted for 71.5 percent of the Redskins' rushing attempts.
Portis doesn't expect to meet with Zorn before training camp to discuss his practice time, preseason snaps and ways to get him more rest in order to be fresher and healthier for the season's stretch run. He had just one 100-yard rushing effort in the last eight games.
"That's up to them," Portis said. "My talking don't do any good - it's their decision to be made. However they call on me and whenever they call on me, that's when I get the ball."
Portis added that he doesn't need to clear the air with Zorn.
"Of course we're together," he said. "After the season, I left. I haven't had a film session with anybody. Football was over with, and I left last year behind me. We can't go back and change. There's no need to harp over it and have conversations over where we went wrong and how it happened. Myself, I'm content getting ready, well-rested and being prepared for another year."
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