Injury-prone Dyson adds experience

The Washington Redskins added a proven but injury-prone wide receiver yesterday in former Tennessee Titans standout Kevin Dyson.

Dyson, of Music City Miracle fame, could battle for snaps in a receiving corps that has some intriguing names ? Santana Moss, David Patten, Taylor Jacobs, James Thrash and Darnerien McCants ? but many questions.

First Dyson must prove he can stay healthy. He has played in just one game over the past two seasons after suffering major injuries in 2000 (two torn knee ligaments), 2002 (torn hamstring) and 2003 (torn Achilles' tendon). He sat out last year after being cut by the San Diego Chargers.

Redskins vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said Dyson ran well during his workout yesterday and showed he has regained some of his former explosiveness.

?He's a veteran receiver who brings some experience,? Cerrato said. ?He'll get a chance to compete.?

The Redskins hope Dyson, who turns 30 later this month, can regain the form he flashed in 1999, when he scored on a miraculous return to beat the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs and later came up inches short of the goal line to end Super Bowl XXXIV, and 2001. He had 54 catches in each of those seasons.

Moss is expected to start for Washington, but otherwise the receiving corps is unsettled. Coach Joe Gibbs has said he would like to see Jacobs, a 2003 second-round pick, step up and become a starter, perhaps signaling that Patten fits in best as a No. 3 receiver.

The Redskins also worked out veteran wide receiver Antonio Freeman but don't intend to sign him at this time.

Portis settles

Running back Clinton Portis deprived the Washington area of an interesting (and comical) court case today when he paid former Redskins safety Ifeanyi Ohalete $18,000 to settle their dispute over uniform No. 26.

Ohalete wore No. 26 as a Redskin and refused to give it up when Portis signed a blockbuster contract last spring. The two eventually worked out a deal in which Portis would pay Ohalete $40,000 for the number. They crafted a crude contract with equipment manager Brad Berlin as the witness.

Portis, however, made only the first $20,000 installment. When Ohalete was released during training camp, Portis figured his financial responsibility had ended. Several months later, Ohalete filed suit in Maryland District Court.

Attorney John Steren, who represented Ohalete, confirmed yesterday's settlement. He said 11th-hour negotiations took place with a lawyer representing Portis.

Schaffer promoted

The Redskins promoted salary cap manager Eric Schaffer to the position of director of football administration. There was no mention of new responsibilities for Schaffer, who has monitored cap issues and negotiated contracts for Washington the past two years.