Clinton Portis responded to Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan's admission that he might let the veteran running back "test the market," telling 106.7 The Fan D.C. Sportsradio that if he has to go elsewhere, he'll do so.
"If it's time to move on, I'll do that," Portis told the Fairfax, Va.-based station Saturday. "I'm appreciative of everything they've done for me. I had a good time and enjoyed myself."
Portis, 29, was limited by injuries to only five games last season, with career lows in carries (54) and yards (227), and has played in just 13 of Washington's last 32 games. He's also slated to make $8.3 million next year, which is more than Shanahan sounded like he wanted to pay when he spoke to media Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
"Now here's a guy with a high salary-cap (number), and I've always dealt with it a little bit differently," Shanahan said. "If we're not going to sign Clinton to that high salary, I'll let him test the market out. Not to say that we don't want him, but if we want him at a lower price, I'd always give him that option to obviously go out and find the best deal."
Shanahan said no decision has been made on Portis, but one will be made soon. "I don't want to say right now," he said. "Could be two days from now, could be three days from now. Could be later today."
Portis has spent seven of his nine NFL seasons in Washington and is the No. 2 rusher in Redskins history -- his 6,284 yards are 684 behind John Riggins' record. He said he hadn't heard from the team about his situation since the season ended.
"I don't think the Washington Redskins owe me anything," he said. "I enjoyed my time in D.C., and I think I made the most of my time here. If it's the end of the road, I'm thankful for my time in Washington."
