Running back Clinton Portis worked out with the Patriots last August, and nothing came of it. New England had plenty of depth at the position, and as is customary in preseason, it was likely nothing more than due diligence.
However, Portis certainly wishes something could have come from it.
After injury problems led to his release prior to the brief lockout, the 30-year-old wasn’t able to catch on with a team for the 2011 season. The nine-year veteran called it a career on Thursday.
During a TV appearance on NFL Network on Friday morning, Portis said that he had a handful of tryouts prior to the 2011 season, and the only one that he felt was the right situation for him would have been in New England.
“There was some agent conversation,” he said on NFL AM. “You know, when I went on my visits, besides New England, I really wasn’t excited or felt as if I was a fit into an organization. But you know, just the opportunity to play with Tom Brady was so exciting that you hoped it work. Outside of that, I really didn’t feel as though I fit into another organization.”
Portis ended his career just shy of 10,000 rushing yards.
