Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan confirmed his team has made a formal contract offer to free agent Brian Westbrook.  Shanahan’s son Kyle, the team’s offensive coordinator, said that Clinton Portis is still Washington’s starting running back — for now.

“Clinton has been the back here, and he’s definitely the starting back going into training camp,” the offensive coordinator said. “We’re planning on it being that way until the next guy steps up.”

Westbrook turns 31 in September and spent the first eight years of his career with Donovan McNabb and the Eagles.  Westbrook played in only 8 games last year, rushing for only 274 yards.  In 2007, he did lead the NFL in total combined yards with 2104.  Portis is two years younger, and also played in 8 games last year.  Portis played his first two years in Denver under Shanahan, who traded him to Joe Gibbs for cornerback Champ Bailey.

The Redskins have also already signed running backs Willie Parker and Larry Johnson this offseason.  Parker will be 30 in November and rushed for only 398 yards in 14 games with Pittsburgh last year, after Pro Bowl years in 2006 and 2007.  Johnson will turn 31 in November and rushed for only 581 yards last year in 14 games split between the Chiefs and Bengals.  Johnson last made the Pro Bowl in 2006.

Sure seems like the plan is to have an assload of old, ex-Pro Bowl running backs in camp and hope at least one can have a decent bounce-back year. New Skins QB McNabb says he’d like to see his old teammate Westbrook get a second chance in D.C. or elsewhere, but that he’s comfortable with Portis:

With Clinton, it seems like we’ve been playing together for awhile … our chemistry has definitely been there.

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In other McNabb news, Donovan hopes his move to D.C. will land him even more endorsements.