ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -The way Clinton Portis sees it, Shaun Alexander’s arrival is an opportunity to recoup an old debt.
“I’m getting my money back – with interest – after all this time,” the Washington Redskins running back said Wednesday. “I think he owes me about $15,000.”
It seems Alexander and other veterans took advantage of a young Portis during the week leading up to the 2004 Pro Bowl. They goaded Portis, in only his second season, into practicing hard to impress the coaches, while everyone else was taking it easy. They also apparently charged a whole bunch of stuff to Portis’ hotel room.
“He tried to big-time me,” Portis said. “I was a young buck.”
Told of Portis’ story, Alexander played coy.
“I’ve heard that,” Alexander said with a hearty laugh, “but I don’t believe it.”
So it went on a day few could have imagined: the day two of this decade’s premier backs walked onto a practice field as Redskins teammates.
er are going to be in the same backfield,” Portis said, “but (stuff) happens.”
Alexander, the league’s MVP in 2005, is back in the NFL with a one-year deal to replace Portis’ backup, Ladell Betts, who is out two to four weeks with a knee injury. Alexander is one of three new Redskins signed on Tuesday – all cut by Seattle this year, all reunited with former Seahawks assistant and new Washington head coach Jim Zorn.
“We’re all pretty mad at Seattle, all looking forward to Nov. 23,” said punter Ryan Plackemeier, already pumped for the Redskins’ trip to the Pacific Northwest next month.
Plackemeier replaces rookie disappointment Durant Brooks. The other former Seahawks player is veteran safety Mike Green.
But Plackemeier and Green are merely the undercard: Curious minds want to know how the Portis-Alexander tandem will work. Alexander’s 9,429 yards ranks fifth among active backs, while Portis’ 8,229 ranks eighth.
“It’s really an honor,” said Portis, who leads the NFL this year with 643 yards. “You get a league MVP, a guy who’s had success and touchdown records and everything else. I want to know how you get 28 touchdowns (in a season), so who better to ask than Shaun? He did it.”
Zorn left no doubt that Portis will continue to be the featured back, with Alexander and Rock Cartwright subbing when needed. Alexander said he’ll have no problem playing second banana.
g to be hard,” Alexander said. “I told Clinton I want him to go rush for 2,000 yards this year, and play well, and hopefully do something that is special that we can all remember. And after that, I want our team to go the Super Bowl and win it. I’ve been there and not won it.”
Alexander, 31, said he is healthy for the first time since breaking a bone in his left foot, an injury that caused his production to plummet from 1,880 yards in his MVP season to 896 yards in 2006 to 716 last year. The Seahawks decided he was no longer worthy of his eight-year, $62 million contract.
“I always knew I was going to play,” Alexander said. “I just had to wait my time. … I finally got to heal all the way up.”
Said Zorn: “He’s got things to prove. I don’t think he doubts what he can do. … It’s one of those preowned Mercedes. I think it’s got some mileage to go on it. He looks fit.”
Alexander, meanwhile, insisted that he doesn’t intend the use the Redskins as a stepping stone to get a starting job with another team next year.
“It’s really simple for me. You get stats, you get fame and fortune and all these things, and if you don’t end up with a ring, you’re never satisfied,” Alexander said. “So I’m going to do whatever I can as a vet, as a leader, as a teammate, as a backup, to help us go get that.”
Other highlights from the red-letter day at Redskins Park:
wife and three daughters (ages 5, 3 and 1) will move with him to Washington, Alexander revealed, with a big smile, that “No. 4 is in the belly.”
– Alexander was known as “Little Shaun” when he was drafted by the Seahawks in 2000 because cornerback Shawn Springs was already on the team. Sure enough, Springs now plays for the Redskins. “After all these years, I’m still Little Shaun,” Alexander said.
Notes: Portis watched practice from the sidelines because of a mild hip flexor, but there’s “no doubt” he’ll play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, said Zorn. Same for LT Chris Samuels, who sat out with ankle and knee injuries. “Chris is going to play,” Zorn said. … The coach was less certain about S Chris Horton (sprained ankle). … G Pete Kendall, who has sore knees, was given a rest day.
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