Stellar backs carry burden

As someone who knows both Shaun Alexander and Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins cornerback Shawn Springs has insight into the personalities of both.

“Both are fun, they’re just different,” said Springs, a teammate of Alexander’s for four years with the Seattle Seahawks. “It’s like having an angel and a devil – I ain’t saying which one is which.”

Well, Portis dressed as an angel two weeks ago, one of his costumed appearances that have become a weekly highlight at Redskins Park. When asked to choose Wednesday, however, he found it hard to vote against the league’s MVP.

“He might think I’m the devil, but Shaun Alexander is a great back,” Portis said.

“For the longest time, people said he was soft and couldn’t do this and couldn’t do that,” Portis added. “Right now, he’s the league MVP. Maybe we need all to adopt that mentality of him staying fresh by running out of bounds and not taking the extra pounding. That got him the league MVP. I’m sure everybody will like to be in his shoes.”

Saturday’s playoff game between the Redskins and Seahawks features two of the league’s most dynamic backs, both on and off the field. They are engaging and media savvy – and occasionally a bit too outspoken – although Alexander’s winning smile is no match for Portis’ theatrics.

“It’s not me against Alexander, but nine times out of 10, the guy who has the best rushing performance, unless there is another close one like the first game we had, the team is probably going to win,” Portis said. “Whoever can control the ball the longest, whoever can stay on the field, will probably come out with the victory.”

Alexander set an NFL record with 28 touchdowns, led the league in rushing with 1,880 yards and helped lead the Seahawks to an NFC-best 13-3 record. He had 11 100-yard games and missed a 12th by 2 yards when he gained 98 against the Redskins in Washington’s 20-17 overtime victory in early October.

Portis set a Redskins record with 1,513 yards, including five straight 100-yard efforts in the season-ending, five-game winning streak that got Washington into the playoffs. He had 90 yards in the first game against the Seahawks. He was held to 53 yards against Tampa Bay last week because of a pinched nerve in one shoulder and soreness in the other, which no doubt came to mind while he was discussing the “extra pounding” he said Alexander avoids.

Packers close to deal with McCarthy

The Green Bay Packers and Mike McCarthy were nearing a deal to make him their next head coach, a person involved in the negotiations said.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet complete, expected the team to finalize an agreement with the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator today.

McCarthy was the Packers’ quarterbacks coach in 1999, working with Brett Favre when the team went 8-8 under Ray Rhodes.

Aikman, White among Hall finalists

Reggie White dominated on defense while Troy Aikman was leading the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles.

Now two of the best players of the 1990s could enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame together.

Aikman and the late White were among the 15 finalists for the Hall of Fame, joining Thurman Thomas and Warren Moon as finalists in their first year of eligibility.

USC’s White declares for draft

Southern California’s Thunder is rumbling off to the NFL. USC’s Lightning could be next to bolt.

LenDale White declared himself eligible for the NFL draft, one day before Reggie Bush is expected to announce he, too, will skip his senior season to turn pro.

White, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior, was the Thunder to Bush’s Lightning in the Trojans’ backfield for three seasons. White set a USC record by scoring 57 career touchdowns

Bush is expected to be taken No. 1 by the Houston Texans in the April 29 draft, with Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart and White going shortly thereafter.

“Virginia linebacker Kai Parham will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft after leading the team in tackles as a junior.

Notes

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said he expects the New Orleans Saints to play all of their home games at the Superdome next season. … Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer had surgery Tuesday on knee ligaments torn during last weekend’s playoff loss to Pittsburgh and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2006 season. The Oakland Raiders interviewed their first candidate to replace fired coach Norv Turner when they met with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders. … Former Montana quarterback Craig Ochs, who led the 2004 Grizzlies to the Division I-AA title game, has signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, his agent said. Agent Ken Staninger said Ochs is likely to play in NFL Europe, an NFL developmental league, next season.