Larry Johnson 'excited' by visit with Redskins

By Banzay on 22:33

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The Redskins' attempt to find a complement for Clinton Portis continues today with the scheduled visit of Larry Johnson.

"Larry is extremely excited and anticipates having a great visit with the Redskins," Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, said in a phone interview. "He grew up a Redskins fan. He was born in the D.C. area and he's a lifelong fan. To some extent, this could be a dream come true for him.

"He looks forward to meeting with the coaching staff and front office to explore his opportunities, how they would use him and if it's going to be a good fit. Obviously, I will have to hunker down with [General Manager] Bruce Allen and Eric Schaffer [the team's vice president of football administration] to see if we can work out a contract that is fair to both sides."

Willie Parker left the complex without a contract earlier in this week, and it seems Coach Mike Shanahan and Allen are content with letting things play out for a bit. There could be many second- and third-tier free agents left on the market in a couple of months, and since those are the players the team has targeted, Washington should have many options deep into the process.

But Johnson, 30, could be an intriguing option because of his past success as a power runner. If Johnson and the Redskins do not reach an agreement, Johnson is expected to visit the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

The presence of another big-name back on the roster might prove to be a source of motivation for Portis. He is coming off a concussion that sidelined him for the final eight games last season.

Portis, 28, reported to training camp out of shape, attempted to have fullback Mike Sellers demoted during a game - prompting a locker-room altercation - and also was critical of quarterback Jason Campbell in a radio interview after the season. Portis is guaranteed $6.4 million of his $7.19 million base salary for the 2010 season.

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