Washington ? A trial between former NFL teammates over a jersey number was averted Monday when running back Clinton Portis agreed to pay $18,000 to former Washington Redskins teammate Ifeanyi Ohalete.

Ohalete will receive all but $2,000 of the $20,000 he was seeking as the balance due for a $40,000 agreement that gave Portis the Redskins jersey No. 26 last year.

When Portis signed a contract with the Redskins in 2004, he wanted to wear the same jersey number he wore for two seasons with the Broncos. However, No. 26 belonged to Ohalete. Protracted negotiations led to a contract signed by Portis, Ohalete and witness Brad Berlin.

It called for Portis to pay Ohalete $40,000 in three installments. Portis paid $20,000 up front and got his coveted No. 26. Ohalete switched to No. 30.

But Ohalete was cut by the Redskins during training camp. Portis apparently felt Ohalete’s departure voided the rest of the contract, so he didn’t pay the final two installments.