During a phone interview with ESPN’s SportsCenter regarding the Donovan McNabb trade, running back Clinton Portis also talked about the addition of Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to the backfield.
“I think L.J. and Willie are great backs,” Portis said. “You know, they’re proven backs in the NFL. I think it’s gonna make the competition side of things exciting. I’ve been in this position before with a loaded backfield with Willis [McGahee] and Frank Gore in college and in the NFL with Terrell Davis and Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary, so this is a situation I’m familiar with. I think for Larry and Willie, whoever gets the nod out of the three of us, we’ll always know there’s another guy pushing, there’s another guy eager to get on the field. The competition’s gonna bring a lot to this organization.”
It’s a surprisingly positive attitude from Portis, and we’ve got a feeling that the arrival of McNabb has prompted Portis to be a lot more optimistic about the situation in D.C.
The fact that Portis will be getting $6.5 million guaranteed this year regardless of whether he’s at the top of the depth chart, the bottom of it, or not on the team at all doesn’t hurt, either.