Portis rushed for 6,824 yards in seven seasons with the Redskins. (Photo: Associated Press)

Update 2:30 p.m. The Redskins confirmed in a statement this afternoon that Portis has been released by the team.

"Clinton provided excitement from the very first time he touched the ball as a Redskin and we were lucky to witness every ounce of energy, effort, and passion he has given ever since," Redskins owner Dan Snyder said in a statement. "We have been through a lot, both on and off the field, and we would like to wish him and his family the very best. He will always be a Redskin and go down as one of the franchise's all-time greats."

"I would like to thank the organization," Portis said in the statement. "Dan [Snyder] and [coach] Mike Shanaha were honest, straight-up people with me. i always appreciated the opportunity from Dan to play here. Being a Redskin was a special part of my life. Coming and being in that organization, I turned from a kid having fun to a man carrying responsibilities. I tried to put the world on my shoulders for coach [Joe] Gibbs and the Redskins fans."

Shanahan was quoted in the team's statement as saying, "I've known Clinton Portis since he entered the National Football League and will alwys respect the competitive drive, intensity, and passion that he brought to the organization every day."

Original Story Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis said this morning in a radio appearance that he expects to be released by the team sometime today. In his regular appearance on the Mike Wise Show, Portis told Wise and co-host Holden Kushner "I should be released today."

The news does not come as a surprise after reports emerged over the weekend from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis that the Redskins were likely to release Portis rather than pay him the $8.3 million he was due for the 2011 season.

Portis was drafted by current Redskins coach Mike Shanahan with the 51st overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft while the latter was the coach of the Denver Broncos. Portis rushed for over 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons with Denver before he was acquired by the Redskins prior to the 2004 season, in a trade that sent cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round pick in the 2004 draft to Denver. The Broncos later used the draft pick to select running back Tatum Bell. 

In total, Portis rushed for 6,824 yards in his seven years with the Redskins, though he never topped the 1,500-mark in his time with the team (coming closest in 2008, when he rushed for 1,487 yards). Portis gained 8,164 all-purpose yards and scored 49 all-purpose touchdowns (46 of them on the ground). However, durability had also become an issue for the Miami alum, as he was only able to play a total of 13 games over the last two seasons. Portis missed the final 11 games of the 2010 season with a torn groin muscle

Unless he comes back to the team at a greatly reduced salary, Portis will end his Redskins career 648 yards short of breaking the franchise's all-time rushing record, currently held by John Riggins, who played for the franchise between 1976 and 1985.