Report: 'Skins to axe Stephen Davis

ASHBURN, Va., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- The Washington Post is reporting that running back Stephen Davis will be waived by the Redskins.

Davis, whose season is over because of a shoulder separation, has said numerous times that he intends to be a Redskin in 2003, and is not worried about the rumors swirling around him.

The 6-0, 230-pounder is owed a balloon payment of $11.4 million for next season.

The Post report said he will be released by the team, even if he takes a pay cut, primarily because, sources have told the paper, he does is not a good fit for the offensive schemes of Coach Steve Spurrier. Now, it appears that he is coming to grips with the possibility of being axed.

The salary cap also is a factor.

The paper said the Redskins would clear more than $5 million of salary cap room for next season by releasing Davis.

"People have their way of doing things, and I can't control that," Davis told the Post. "My years here in Washington have been fulfilling. The fans embraced me, everybody (did). I had an opportunity here, and I made the best of it. It's just a situation that happened. Some things come up. You just have to know how to accept it and deal with it."

Davis, 28, who has 820 yards on 207 carries this season, owns the club's single-season rushing record of 1,432, set in 2001. The former Auburn standout, who was a fourth-round pick in 1996, has 5,790 yards on 1,383 carries in seven NFL seasons, all with Washington.

"There's nothing that's been said," Davis said. "I've just got to get myself healthy, and hopefully somebody will pick me up."

In his absence, Kenny Watson and Ladell Betts each rushed for more that 100 yards in last Sunday,s 26-10 win over Houston, and will also alternate in this week's season finale against Dallas, which has beaten the Redskins ten straight times.