Former RB Clinton Portis Admits Taking A Shot Of Hennessy Before Games In F’ed Up Pregame Routine

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Former NFL running back Clinton Portis, like other athletes, had certain pregame routines that some of us may find a little weird — like NFL lineman John Henderson, who used to get slapped to get psyched for games, or former soccer player Laurent Blanc, who used to kiss his goalkeeper’s head before matches started. But, of all the F’ed up things I’ve heard athletes do before games, Portis’ has to be the strangest.

That’s because, in the latest episode of FS1’s Fair Game with Kristine Leahy, Clinton Portis was asked about a strange pregame ritual that most pro athletes would never think about doing; taking a shot of Hennessy before playing, with the guy confirming that he did, in fact, use the booze to loosen up. Take a look at the video below from the segment.

While the former running back, who reached the Pro Bowl two times during his nine-year NFL career, did add that the Hennessy was ” a turn-up” and that “it wasn’t like I was getting drunk. We took one shot,” this seems like a pretty messed up pregame ritual. Sure, it probably knocked off the edge a bit, but I can’t think that this is doctor recommended.

Here’s what else Clinton Portis had to tell Leahy, sort of defending his decision to shoot some Henny, per Bleacher Report.

“After I took that shot, it was like, ‘OK, now it’s time to go do this’ instead of going to lay down and take a Toradol shot, which all of the sudden, it comes out and it’s hazardous to your health,” he said.

A product of “The U” — the University of Miami — I can’t help but think that, of course, someone from the wild n’ crazy days in Coral Gables would shoot some Hennessy prior to games. Not sure if his coaches knew about this, but I’d think that it might not have been too well accepted, but what do I really know? Plus, it seemed to work for him, so who really gives a sh*t if it was the right thing to do or not.

(H/T Bleacher Report)