Fabini, 34, knows he is in the twilight of a professional career that has spanned 11 seasons.

"When you're older, you know that next season sometimes ain't promised to ya," Fabini said.

"You see it with other guys and sooner or later, that's going to be you that's going to walk out the door and no one is going to want you back in the door."

Initially, Fabini thought he may only walk out one door once.

He spent his first eight years in the league with the New York Jets , which selected him in the fourth round of the 1998 draft.

He started every game he played in for the Jets as either the right or left tackle.

He was the anchor of an offensive line blocking for future Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin and quarterback Vinny Testaverde.

Yet it's his rookie year that stands out.

Fabini started the season opener at right tackle, and the Jets, then coached by Bill Parcells, made the AFC Championship game before losing to the Denver Broncos .

He hasn't been back to a title game since.

"You're one game away from the Super Bowl, and that's the closest I've gotten in 11 years," Fabini said. "...You never know when you're going to get your shots. You got to take advantage of it."

Leaving the Jets showed him the business side of the NFL.

When Fabini arrived in Washington after a one-year stint with Dallas, he walked into the locker room and saw Randy Thomas and Pete Kendall, former Jets teammates now on the Redskins.

He switched from tackle to guard, and the move showed his flexibility and helped extend his career. Last season, he had to replace Thomas, who missed the majority of the season because of injury.

"He's got some move in his hips," Thomas said. "I mean, he ain't the fastest guy, but he can be one of the smartest."

Fabini says he'd like to play an additional season or two if possible.

When the Redskins made a run to the playoffs last season, he contemplated whether it'd be his last playoff game. Making the run - four wins over the final four weeks - before losing in the playoffs to Seattle was gratifying, he said.

Fabini isn't sure what he'll do when it's over. He comes back to his home on the northeast side of Fort Wayne in the offseason and figures he'll move back permanently after his retires.

The way he'd like to go out? Finally reaching a Super Bowl.

"You never know when theis going to be," Fabini said. "At my age, you've got to enjoy it while you can."

mrothstein@jg.net