The question seemed like a ridiculously easy one for Clinton Portis: Which former University of Miami tailback, he was asked, is the best NFL rusher? Like most ex-Hurricanes, Portis doesn’t lack self-esteem, …

Andre Carter has been limping for most of the season, bothered by foot injuries that have stopped him from rushing the passer with his usual abandon for the Washington Redskins. Yet he’ll have a spring in his step Sunday, despite the Redskins’ elimination from the playoff chase, when he takes the field at Candlestick Park — a place that still feels like home, and a place he never really wanted to…

The Washington Redskins have plenty to be thankful for this holiday season, but the playoffs aren’t one of them.

WHERE’S THE OFFENSE? The Eagles failed to score an offensive touchdown for the second time in five games, because the only score they had in their 36-7 loss at Baltimore in Week 12 was a 100-yard kickoff return …

The Washington Redskins’ fourth-ranked defense will not play into January no matter what happens this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers.

The defense doesn’t have a single Pro Bowl pick, but allows fewer yards per game than the top two seeds in the playoffs, Tennessee and the New York Giants. Deficiencies in sacks and turnovers had defensive coordinator Greg Blache defending his players vigorously as the season unraveled, yet their opinion of themselves is unwavering.

‘I think,’ linebacker Marcus Washington said, ‘the sky could be the limit for this defense.’

Eleven months ago, Greg Blache was poised to retire from football, walking away from the long hours and stress and taking up a life of hunting and relaxation.

Since Redskins owner Daniel Snyder talked Blache into returning to the team as defensive coordinator, the coach has repeatedly talked about how much he has enjoyed himself. Yesterday, he called this the easiest season of his coaching career and said he was ready to return for a second year running the team’s defense.

‘And honestly, to be quite candid, this time of year is never a good time of year to make a decision, when you’re tired,’ Blache said. ‘And that’s what I did last year, I made a decision when I was tired. It’s better for me to wait until I’m not, but right now, yeah, I’m up for it. I mean, it’s been fun. Quite candidly, it’s been fun. If I have this same quality of people to work with, it’s easy to come to work every day.’

Tired of answering questions about his future with the Philadelphia Eagles, Donovan McNabb would rather get a new contract than play for a new team.

The Washington Redskins’ struggles down the stretch put first-year head coach Jim Zorn on the hot seat.

“You don’t happen to have an extra rulebook on you?” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS In a game against the Chicago Bears last month, Eric Bassey of the St.

The Washington Redskins ended Lorenzo Alexander’s season on Wednesday, placing the defensive tackle on injured reserve and signing linebacker Tyson Smith. Alexander injured his hamstring Sunday in the Redskins’ victory over the Eagles. The second-year reserve and special teamer played in 15 games, posting 26 tackles, two sacks and two passes defended on the season.