Springs Remains Questionable

Washington Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs missed practice all week with a groin injury and remains questionable for today's first-round playoff game at Tampa Bay, with coaches likely to make a decision on his status just before game time. Springs said he would not be surprised if he cannot play, given the severity of the injury and his inability to finish last week's game, but believes he would be able to play in a divisional playoff game, should the Redskins advance.

"If I can't go, I have confidence in my teammates to get the job done," Springs said. "I won't do anything to hinder the team."

Springs is the team's top defensive back and generally guards the offense's premier receiver; in this case it would be speedster Joey Galloway, who played with Springs at Ohio State. If the Redskins beat the Buccaneers, they would play at Seattle, the team that drafted Springs third overall in 1997 and where he spent the first seven years of his career. Gregg Williams, assistant head coach-defense, said the team could still opt to use Springs in a limited role even if he is unable to start.

Good Progress

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Running backs coach Earnest Byner set the loftiest of goals for his players this season -- 2,400 total yards rushing -- and while they came up a bit short, the staff is more than pleased with the production.

Byner dangled an 1,800-yard season before running back Clinton Portis, but was more than happy when Portis finished with 1,516 yards, most in franchise history. The Redskins have not rushed for 2,400 yards as a team since 1985 -- and had a meager total of 1,765 yards rushing in 2004. This season, Washington finished with 2,183 yards, which is the franchise's best since 1985 (2,523 yards).

"We set the goal way up there," Byner said. "If you shoot for the moon, you'll probably end up in the stars, and we ended up in the top seven in the league rushing the ball. I put it out there for the guys, and they stepped up to the challenge, and the biggest thing I'll tell you is this: When you've got guys pass protecting they way these backs do, when you've got guys that unselfish, that's something that really stands out for me. We've got some good, quality people that are playing for us."

Running back Ladell Betts finished second on the team with 338 yards rushing -- with a 3.8-yard average -- and Rock Cartwright managed 199 yards on just 27 carries -- a gaudy 7.4 yards per carry.

Secret Success

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No one would have predicted that H-back Mike Sellers would become one of the team's biggest weapons inside the 20-yard line, and Sellers still has a hard time figuring out why opponents are not taking his presence more seriously.

Sellers entered this season with six total touchdowns in five seasons (70 games) but produced eight this season, with seven receiving scores and one rushing. Sellers never went more than three games without a touchdown this season, and had two Oct. 23 against San Francisco, matching his previous single-season high in that contest.

Sellers caught a touchdown pass in Washington's first meeting with Tampa Bay this season, slipping into the end zone relatively easily, as has often been the case.

"It's amazing how people still forget about me," Sellers said. "You'd figure five or six touchdowns into the season they'd start to key on me, but apparently not. I'm not complaining. I've been pleased to have the year I've had, especially after last year learning the offense, it's been nice. There's lots of things I wish I could have done better, but then you know everybody thinks that way during the season. I have no complaints, and I'm content where we're at."

Portis (11 touchdowns) and wide receiver Santana Moss (nine), were the only Redskins to get in the end zone more often than Sellers this season.

Salave'a Fined

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Defensive tackle Joe Salave'a was fined $7,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct in the Dec. 24 game against the New York Giants, league sources said. Salave'a got down on all fours and, in doglike fashion, lifted his leg after making a tackle.

-- Jason La Canfora