Aug. 16, 2005

CHARLOTTE - Clinton Portis sighed in resignation as the members of the media descended upon the Washington Redskins locker room at Bank of America Stadium last Saturday night.

Notebooks and cameras in hand, the dozen or so reporters raced toward Portis' locker, but instead of stopping and talking with the All-Pro running back, they pushed their way past him to get to rookie running back Nehemiah Broughton two lockers down.

Portis could only shake his head in disbelief.

As the first reporter started to ask the former Citadel running back about his first NFL preseason game, Portis leaned into the group and interrupted, "Nemo, I've already talked to coach and we're trading you for one of those team buses out front. We can't have this."

Broughton, a seventh-round pick in April's NFL draft, could only smile at the attention he was getting.

"You don't want to get the veterans mad at you," Broughton said in a hushed tone. "They like to take it out on the rookies. I've just tried to stay humble and go about my business."

Broughton was all business Saturday night against the Panthers. Playing mostly in the second half against the Panthers' second- and third-team defensive units, the former North Charleston High School star gave the Redskins coaching staff a glimpse of what he might be able to do in the NFL. Broughton had 43 all-purpose yards and led the Redskins in rushing with 28 yards on seven attempts. Broughton also had Washington's longest run from scrimmage of 14 yards in the Redskins 28-10 loss to Carolina.

"Nemo was one of the few bright spots for us," said Washington coach Joe Gibbs. "But that's not a surprise, he's played well all training camp."

Despite playing just three hours from his hometown and having several family and friends in the stands, Broughton shrugged off his NFL experience as just another football game. "I've been playing football my whole life, why should this be any different?" Broughton said. "This is the highest level you can play at and of course it's been a dream of mine for a long time, but at the end of the day it's just football."

Listed as the Redskins' fourth-team running back, Broughton scored the team's only touchdown on a one-yard run in the third quarter. His teammates appeared to be more excited than he was about getting into the end zone.

"It felt good to get into the end zone, but I didn't want to act like I hadn't been there before," Broughton said. "People think I'm nonchalant, but I've been in the end zone before and I plan on being there plenty more times before I'm done."

Broughton didn't even keep the TD ball. "I didn't even think about it," Broughton said. "I'll go get one and just tell everyone this was the ball I scored with."

Less than 25 percent of seventh-round picks end up making an NFL roster. Broughton thinks he's going to beat the odds.

"I feel like I've got a pretty good shot at making the team," Broughton said. "I feel like that's something I can control. As long as I'm out there working hard, making plays running the ball or on special teams, I've got a shot at making the roster."

Broughton has already earned the respect of most of the veterans on the team, including safety Pierson Prioleau, a former Macedonia High School star.

"I really like what I've seen from Nemo," Prioleau said. "He runs hard. He can catch the ball and he's good on special teams. When you're a rookie, that's the key -- special teams. If you're not a first- or second-round pick, you'd better be ready to play on special teams and Nemo came in with the attitude that he wanted to play on special teams.

"He's definitely got a chance to make the active roster. The way he's running the ball and the way he plays on special teams, I'd be surprised if he didn't make the roster."

Always eager to learn, Broughton said he has to improve on the things he does without the ball in his hands.

"I think I need to work the most on my pass blocking and picking up the blitzes," Broughton said. "When you're a running back, everyone knows you can run the ball. It's the other things you do without the ball that are going to help me make this team."

Hazing rookies is a time-honored tradition in the NFL. Thus far, the Redskins veterans have taken it pretty easy on The Citadel graduate.

"They've made me sing the school song a couple of times at dinner, but they haven't really come after me yet," Broughton said. "But I'm on the lookout. I'm sure they've got something for me coming up. I think Clinton is going to get me sometime soon."