Willie Parker will visit with Redskins
Free-agent running back Willie Parker will visit with the Washington Redskins, per Rick Maese of the Washington Post.
Although he is technically older (born November 11, 1980) than the incumbent running back (born September 1, 1981), Clinton Portis, there is much less wear on Parker's wheels. Portis has 2,176 career rushing attempts while Parker has 1,253.
Parker, who rushed for nearly 1,500 yards in 2006, was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers in favor of second-year back Rashard Mendenhall.
Meanwhile, Portis is one of the few running backs from last year's Redskins' squad that remains on the roster. Other running backs that won't be back include Rock Cartwright, Ladell Betts and Quinton Ganther, among others.
Last season, Portis missed the final eight games of the season after suffering a concussion and ended the year with only 494 yards and one touchdown on 124 carries.
Speaking of (or, more precisely, not speaking) of Portis' future, new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said, “Let’s not talk about Clinton. Let’s talk about everybody on the Washington Redskins. Let’s not focus on one guy ... I want all the guys on our football team to make a commitment in the offseason to work, and work extremely hard … It’s very important to show your teammates exactly how hard you work and how dedicated you are to the program.”
If Parker ends up in Washington, I could easily see a situation where he becomes the featured back in a split with Portis, in which case he could become a viable flex option in fantasy football in 2010.
