Clinton Portis and Mike Sellers Have Heated Exchange Over Sellers's Blocking

While speaking with coaches during last Sunday's game, Portis requested to have blocking tight end Todd Yoder take Sellers's place in the backfield, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Apparently, Portis's frustration stemmed from an ill-fated fourth-and-goal play in the 19-14 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sept. 27 on which Sellers failed to execute his blocking assignment, Portis failed to score and Detroit took over on downs.

Sellers did not learn about Portis's request until after the game, sources said, and added that Sellers continued to play in the contest.

Many players were upset that Portis felt emboldened enough to make such a request, sources said, but the incident also served to highlight an apparent broader unhappiness with the running back among many of his teammates, who believe he holds himself to a different standard than them and often has simply chosen not to practice. These players say that Portis's behavior stems in part from his close relationship, at least in prior seasons, with Snyder.

Vinny Cerrato, Washington's executive vice president of football operations, said during training camp that former coach Joe Gibbs jokingly referred to Portis as an assistant general manager.

On Wednesday, Portis said in jest that he had been "fired" from that post. "They released me from that duty," he said. "Right now, I'm just a part-time running back."

Portis has been a productive player throughout his career with the Denver Broncos and the Redskins but, according to sources, the sentiment among Redskins players is that he hasn't attained the type of superstar level that leads some players to set themselves apart from their teammates.

Portis has 218 yards on 72 carries through four games, putting him 10th in the league in rushing.

Redskins Notes: Punter Hunter Smith will be inactive Sunday because of a groin injury, and punter Glenn Pakulak will be signed off the practice squad, Zorn said after practice Friday. Smith, injured on his first punt last Sunday at FedEx Field, was unable to handle punting duties during practice this week, so the coaching staff will lean on Pakulak against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

The Redskins must release someone from the 53-man roster to create room for Pakulak, who also will hold for place kicker Shaun Suisham, and the team plans to make those moves Saturday, Zorn said. . . .

Defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery (knee) will be inactive again this weekend, said Zorn, who added: "He's progressing. He's not quite ready, I'm going to put him down this week, but he's progressing to where he's actually got a chance in the next weeks to come to really make it tougher on me to make a decision. Right now, it's easy."

Montgomery has not played this season . . .

Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (elbow) is listed as questionable, Zorn said. . . . Rocky McIntosh was excused from practice Friday for personal reasons. . . .

The Redskins today worked out former Maryland running back Keon Lattimore, Ray Lewis's brother, but do not plan to sign him because they have no roster room, a league source said.