Redskins Coach Joe

PHILADELPHIA -- The Washington Redskins' slide into oblivion continued yesterday in a soggy and often sloppy loss that not only left the team virtually out of contention for the playoffs, but also left it without star running back Clinton Portis for the foreseeable future. Portis broke a finger on his right hand in the first quarter of a 27-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The fracture could require screws to repair, Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. The injury might keep Portis - who dislocated his shoulder in the preseason and injured an ankle three weeks ago against Indianapolis - sidelined at least three weeks.

At this stage of a lost season, the Washington Redskins are much like a bunch of young actors studying their craft. Collectively and individually, they are searching for motivation in playing out the last four games. Starting today against the Philadelphia Eagles (6-6) at FedEx Field, the 4-8 Redskins are out of realistic playoff contention and reduced to the role of spoilers for the rest of the season. Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is curious to see how his team will react. Eagles@Redskins Today, 1 p.m., Ch. 5, 1430 AM Line: Eagles by 1

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is expected to decide soon whether former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is eligible to become the first coach of the expansion Carolina Panthers.A league spokesman said yesterday that the Redskins have filed their case in the Gibbs matter and Tagliabue will make a decision "in the near future."The Redskins are arguing that Gibbs can't be hired by another team before 1995 unless they get compensation because he had two years left on his contract when he resigned last March 5.The Panthers counter that since they won't play any games until 1995, they should be able to hire Gibbs now without giving the Redskins compensation.

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is expected to decide soon whether former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is eligible to become the first coach of the expansion Carolina Panthers.A league spokesman said yesterday that the Redskins have filed their case in the Gibbs matter and Tagliabue will make a decision "in the near future."The Redskins are arguing that Gibbs cannot be hired by another team before 1995 unless they get compensation because he had two years left on his contract when he resigned last March 5.The Panthers counter that since they won't play any games until 1995, they should be able to hire Gibbs now without giving the Redskins compensation.

HERNDON, Va. -- Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs thinks money talks in the NFL .That's why he said yesterday that he thinks Malcolm Glazer's cash offer for a franchise has put Baltimore in a good position in the expansion derby."

Ashburn, Va. -- Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said he erred in his criticism of officials and instant replay after the team's 36-35 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Gibbs, who vented on Monday, was particularly incensed that officials did not overturn Mike Alstott's game-winning, two-point conversion with 58 seconds left and would not allow him to challenge a ruling on Joey Galloway's 34-yard catch that led to Tampa Bay's first touchdown. "If we disagree on something, I should just say, `Hey, we're going to turn it in, and see where we go,'" Gibbs said yesterday after practice at Redskins Park.

HERNDON, Va. -- It's playoff time and tempers are short.And so are conference calls.Atlanta Falcons coach Jerry Glanville hung up on Washington reporters after less than three minutes yesterday."

ASHBURN, Va. -- Kili Lefotu, the Washington Redskins rookie offensive guard who was taken to a local hospital after losing consciousness in his dormitory room Wednesday night, was in stable condition yesterday, according to Bubba Tyer, the team's director of sports medicine. The chain of events regarding Lefotu's situation disclosed by Tyer differed from those initially announced after practice Wednesday night by Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Tyer said that Lefotu called 911 after feeling ill and was conscious when a local EMT unit arrived, but then passed out. Gibbs had said that Lefotu had been found unconscious.

WASHINGTON -- After his first interception, linebacker Wilber Marshall retreated to the Washington Redskins' bench and heaved the football into the stands at RFK Stadium, a pass certain to draw a fine from the NFL office.After his second interception, Marshall jogged to the end zone bleachers and presented the ball to a young girl.And if that merits a fine, Marshall said later, "I'll pay that, too."Four years after he came to the Redskins in a celebrated free-agent signing, Marshall was delivering the big plays that had made him an All-Pro with the Chicago Bears.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The streak. It has been an embarrassment for the AFC and a pride thing for the NFC.And last night at the Metrodome, the Washington Redskins added to it with the NFC's eighth straight Super Bowl victory -- 37-24 over Buffalo -- the longest streak of domination by either conference since the game was created.The AFC had a streak of five in the early '70s, thanks in large part to back-to-back victories by both the Dolphins and the Steelers. The Bills had the AFC's best chance to end it last season against the Giants, but Scott Norwood's 47-yard field goal with four seconds left was five feet off to the right.