Redskins, Broncos Are Discussing Blockbuster Trade

[Walter Cronkite]

The Broncos are thinking about sending Clinton Portis to Washington.

The Denver Broncos are discussing a trade that would send running back Clinton Portis to Washington for cornerback Champ Bailey, a swap of two Pro Bowlers upset with their contracts, a source said Monday.

In giving up Portis for Bailey, Denver also would receive Washington's second-round selection in the April draft, the NFL source told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Vinny Cerrato, Washington's player personnel director, said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis: "We are talking to a number of teams and Denver is one of the teams." He wouldn't name the players.

The negotiations were first reported in The Denver Post.

The Redskins have protected Bailey, who can become a free agent on March 3, by designating him their franchise player. That means the Redskins must make him a one-year, $6.8 million tender, the average of the top five players at his position.

Portis has two years remaining on the contract he signed as a second-round draft pick in 2002. Displeased with the $300,000 he made last season, he has hinted he might be a holdout when training camp starts unless the Broncos rework his deal.

The deal would make sense because the Redskins went last season without an every-down running back, a must in the offensive system favored by new coach Joe Gibbs. Portis ran for 1,591 yards last year despite missing three games with chest and ankle injuries.

Portis' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined comment and the Broncos did not return a call seeking comment.

Source: AP

[Modern Arts]

What a stupid scenario. If you continue to read the rest of the articles you'll find that the Denver Broncos are sinking...Anderson wants out, Gold isn't happy and wants to hit the market along with Deltha O'neal. This reminds me of the SF. Giants of the 70's and 80's. They gave away every great player they had who went on to shine big time for other teams. One guy isn't going to make or break Denver's defense, especially since we have linebacker woes all of a sudden. I'l tell ya, Shanahan and brain trust are becoming senile and desparate. This wouldn't be a NFL block buster trade, it would be very stupid in my opinion.

[AndySMC]

How can the skins go from asking for a number one pick and a second round pick to now giving up Champ Bailey for a 5'11" 205 running back and our second round pick. You have got to be kidding me. The problems with this is
1. Portis is a good back, I liked him coming out of college, but Denver has always had good backs. I think his production is a reflection on their blocking scheme.
2. What about the salary cap? How can the skins keep spending and not go over the cap
3. What about the defense? What I am reading is that the skins are trying to bring in Phillip Daniels who had all of 2'1/2 sacks last year. Is that the best they can do
4. If this goes down it reminds me of the herschel walker dallas trade. Dallas went on to win championship and the viking are still trying to find a RB. A 4 times pro bowl,all pro and a high pick for a guy his team wants to get rid of.
I said that Gibbs is a great coach, but as a GM I was very afaird something like this was going to happen. The problem is there is no counter weigh in the personnel decision making process right now. We all know that Snyder likes big names, add to the fact that gibbs wants to win. now the skins will be luckly to keep their first round pick. Welcome back to the George allen days of building a team. Again Gibbs is a great coach, but as a GM I'm not so sure.

[johnny trance]

steelers baby!