dry water line to the foot valve

ksbnellis

I just replaced my pump for what was probably a bad foot valve. I replaced the foot valve and now I am having trouble priming the pump. I have tried several times. I was wondering, if when I took the foot valve off I lost the prime to the line and need to fill it with water also bfore it will prime the pump. I know what the foot valve does, but if there is no water in the line it may not be able to help prime the pump. Thank you for any insight.