Redskins bound for familiar Seattle

ASHBURN -- Shaun Alexander isn't going to let himself make Sunday's game any bigger than it needs to be.

Sure he's returning to Seattle, the city where he was named league MVP for his 2005 season and then cut two years later, but he's also returning as a third-string running back.

"When you only get one carry, how excited can you be?" he asked. "I can't do that to myself."

He's not the only player with Seahawks ties.

Coach Jim Zorn is the most notable, having spent most of his NFL career there as a quarterback and then quarterbacks coach.

The list also includes punter Ryan Plackemeier, fullback Mike Sellers, lineman Pete Kendall, safety Mike Green and cornerback Shawn Springs.

"There is a Seattle influence in here," Kendall said. "I'm not sure what it all means. I guess we know better than most people where to eat."

While they may give their teammates a dining recommendation, the former Seahawks won't have to brief them on the atmosphere at Qwest Field. The Redskins suffered playoff losses in Seattle to end their 2005 and 2007 seasons.

The Seahawks places an emphasis on "The 12th Man," which is the fans creating noise inside the stadium to disrupt the opposition.

"They feel like they make the difference," Zorn said. "They feel that if they can get you to jump offsides, it's not the situation that got you to do it, it's the guy sitting in row 8, section 121. He's the one who got you to jump offsides."

Zorn drew the most attention among former Seahawks yesterday. Sellers, who grew up in Seattle, joked that he was "more of a Steve Largent fan." Largent, a Hall of Fame wide receiver, caught more passes from Zorn than any other wideout.

Sellers said he has left 30 tickets for family and friends, and the number likely will go up by the end of the week.

For Plackemeier, it's a matter of going back and being able to see former teammates and coaches he developed a bond with.

"Going into the visitor's locker room will be weird," he said. "I spent a lot of games in that home locker room, got to know a lot of people. But we're there to win a football game, and that's where my focus will be."

Zorn said that's where his focus will be, too. He left the philosophizing to the players, including always-eloquent cornerback Fred Smoot.

"It's like being in a room with your ex-wife," Smoot said. "Nobody knows you better than her, but at the same time, you hate her."

Former Seahawks making their way to the Redskins locker room is a trend that has begun recently, though it is appropriate considering Washington is a city of transplants. The Nationals have been going down a similar path with former Cincinnati Reds players.

Of course, players returning to Seattle won't expect a warm welcome when they take the field Sunday.

"It's great to go home and have a chance to have all my buddies watch me play," Sellers said. "And it's nice to be the bad guy."

Injury report: Practice for the week started yesterday with Antwaan Randle El still sitting out with a low ankle sprain. Zorn said that Randle El is expected to play Sunday, as is cornerback Springs, who participated in practice.

Running back Clinton Portis and lineman Kendall sat out practice but are expected to play. Receiver Malcolm Kelly had a full practice, and Zorn said he was able to do everything asked of him.

Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck sat out practice but is expected to play.
Contact Michael Phillips at (804) 649-6546 or .