The Washington Redskins’ off-season conditioning program begins Monday, and head coach Mike Shanahan says he’s certain that running back Clinton Portis will take part in the voluntary workouts.
“Oh, I guarantee you Clinton will be there,” Shanahan said Thursday, per the Washington Post. “I know Clinton too well. He’ll be there and kick off the offseason on the right note. I want my leaders to be there, and hopefully we’ll have 100 percent participation and if not, I’ll be disappointed.”
Portis had an injury-plagued 2009 season in which he played only eight games and ran for only 494 yards, and there was speculation that he could have been playing his final season in Washington. But the combination of his contract -- which guarantees him $6.43 million whether he plays or not -- and his personal relationship with Shanahan make him, in Shanahan’s words, “our running back.”
Shanahan also said that he’d like for Larry Johnson to be his backup running back.
“Obviously I’ve watched him from afar for years,” Shanahan said of Johnson. “I coached Larry in the Pro Bowl. I like Larry. I’m a big fan of his.”