Portis for Champ?
 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Desperate to land a tailback who could make a major impact in new coach Joe Gibbs' run-oriented offense, the Washington Redskins are in discussions about a blockbuster trade that would bring them one of the NFL's premier young backs.


The proposed deal, which percolated here over the weekend at the annual draft combine sessions, would net the Redskins tailback Clinton Portis, who rushed for over 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Denver Broncos. In return for Portis, 22, Denver would receive Redskins four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey and perhaps one of Washington's choices in the 2004 draft.


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Portis would be a huge pickup for the Redskins. Champ Bailey is a great cornerback, but there are few CB's who can dominate a game, compared to a strong RB.

As for Denver, the way their scheme is and because of their line, they could line up virtually anyone behind the QB and rush for 1,200 (Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Terrell Davis....)

Trade Bailey for a first and second, draft a runningback in the second round, they'll be better off. They have many more needs then just a running back to do this deal.

Hmm, you make a valid comment about Denver's o-line, but lets face it.. Portis is a stud, and 9/10 he gets things done, picking up another promising rookie and working on him takes the Broncos 2 years back.

And do the Broncos need a CB that badly ? They could probably draft one in this years' draft, there are plenty of decent ones there.

Denver is crazy if they trade portis away, this kid is only getting better... I mean he's ONLY 22!

bad mistake if denver does this, but if you are a Skins fan you guys must be licking your chops...

Two words...Olandis Gary.

It's as much the system as the back. Portis is looking like a great running back no matter where he plays, but they have another guy who can step in, plus need the CB help and want the pick.

Denver is the smart team here.

Ok, I've been thinking this deal over, and I still don't like it:

Clinton Portis has some talent, but could be a potential dud with the rag-tag o-line of the Skins. I mean the Indy/Denver playoff game, where the Indy run D manhandled the o-line and stuffed Portis repeatedly.

The Skins are also trading away the best player, in what is often a shambolic secondary, and probably a 2nd round draft choice.

The Skins "already" lost their 3rd round pick for Brunell. Their first draft choice then has to be spot on, they have to get their guy.

Anyway.. the thing is.. probably for whatever Portis is going to ask, they could re-sign Champ. Then draft a RB with their early 1st round pick, and maybe an offensive lineman with their 2nd.

I heard that the NY Jets are working hard for a deal. Lamont Jordan and there 1st round pick for Bailey. What are your thoughts? I think the Jets would be ripping off the Redskins.

i think this deals retarded. washington just spent 48 million in landing brunell, a great qb at his age, and now there going to try to shift there offense into a running one? with portis, the redskins might as well have just saved there money and kept ramsey as the starting qb.

i feel sorry for denver. i feel there getting the raw end of the deal. losing portis and a second rounder for champ? no way! champs a hellova cb but damn...your losing your stud running back and a 2nd round pick which you can use this draft, a draft thats STOCKED with cornerbacks!!

This seems like a bad trade for everyone involved. There are CBs in the draft and while I do believe that the system is very important in Denver, Portis is a great RB. Bailey is a great CB, but this is not a fair trade. Although maybe Champ would have had the sense to touch Marvin Harrison when he was on the ground.
What are the Skins thinking? I agree you need a RB to compete, but they are easier to come by than a shutdown CB, especially a 25 year old shutdown corner. You don't need a stud RB if you just spent $43 million on a QB. Fix the O-line and the running game will improve, don't trade away one of your last high draft picks for a RB who will fail behind an awful line while making your pass defense awful. I know that Gibbs is a coach who doesn't want players who don't want to be there, but this is a bad trade.

I think this is a good trade. A good CB is hard to come by, as Denver has learned some of the draft and free agent busts they have had. Meanwhile they have had four different running backs rush for over 1,000 yards the past 6 seasons, and Quentin Griffin can easily make it a fifth back.

the more i look at this the more i think it is a good trade for the broncos. bailey is one of the best cb's in the league. a stud cb is much harder to find than a stud rb. this makes sense for denver but i question the redskins motive. if i am denver i pull the trigger. also the jets jumping in with lamont jordan and #1 doesn't seem to be enough for me. if the skins go that way i would look for more.

I appreciate the quality and rarity of a great DB, but I just don't see many of them changing the course of games. Ronnie Lott, Lester Hayes, Deion all could alter the games, but it's not common to have a game change on the play of a DB.

Running backs dominate games....if I'm looking at this trade, I'm looking to pick up a back like Portis and I'll take my chances on replacing Bailey.

A top cornerback can change games by taking a team's best receiver out of the game.

Interestingly, I've heard a lot of discussion on Ravens fanboards about whether it would be worth it to trade Chris McAlister, who is only slightly behind Bailey on the list of top corners, to one of these teams for the picks they are offering, if not a 1 and 2, maybe a 1 and 3.

I would do this for several reasons: the Ravens don't have a 1st rounder, they have Gary Baxter playing very well and who could probably step into McAlister's place, there are plenty of available corners in the second and later rounds, the Ravens would kill for a top receiver like Roy Williams or Mike Williams, and Ozzie Newsome and his staff have an unbelievable track record with their drafting.

This would be a hell of a trade for the Redskins (dammit). They would have the best runningback in the NFC East (and arguably the NFC), and I'm sure Bill Parcells would kill to have Clinton Portis, Mark Brunell and Patrick Ramsey as his backfield. My cowboys need to start making some moves, quick.

Very good move for the Ravens, they need some passing offence badly!

If Boller can stay healthy, and they get a stud WR in the draft, they could take command of AFC North and mount a serious playoff run.

If I were the Redskins I would offer these three players giant contracts in this order:
1. Bailey
2. Arrington
3. Brunell
I don't know what the Skins are thinking. Plus, if they don't have the money Bailey wants, where are they going to get the money that Portis wants?

Is Portis that good, or is Denver's blocking the best in the NFL? Portis reminds me a lot of Davis, but as good as he is, if he goes to Washington, he probably won't perform as well. Anyhow, it's a retarded move by Denver, Portis has 1,500+ yards in each of his two seasons and he's real young too. He's also from UM... and anyone from UM kicks ass, like Sean Taylor... now there's a guy that'll spice up the CB position come this season.

It's probably both. Portis is one talented sonovabitch, but two things stand out to me.

Butch Davis, when he went to Cleveland after coaching Portis at Miami, thought he wouldn't be tough enough inside, and eventually drafted the legendary William Green instead.

The other thing is simply two names: Mike Anderson; Olandis Gary.

I think they have the money, they're just going a different way with the offense under Gibbs. Instead of lightning fast receivers with Spurrier, Gibbs wants to develop a ground game beyond Ladell Betts. That's where Portis comes in.

I feel that money isn't the only issue, it's who their giving the money to....Gibbs would rather have a quality running back rather than a quality defensive back. Bailey is amazing, but you have to give up to get.

I think its a good trade for Denver, a shut down CB is more valuable than a good running back, because its a rarer commodity.

really this is a great trade. gibbs wants a great runner, smoot is an up and coming corner, they can get a great player with the fifth pick, and bailey has been having a little trouble lately (for example: bailey falls down while covering marty booker, leaving him wide open on the streak for a 30 yard td)

lol... c'mon... u arent serious rite? I saw Randy Moss drop a pass, and also Harrison too... I wouldnt call them bad :D

Oh my God! Lavar Arrington missed a tackle! Let's cut the no-talent sonovabitch!

My sentiments exactly. And I will say right now that Quentin Griffin will probably rush for 1200+ next year. Denver goes through running backs faster than women go through shoes.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=1748249

Eight-year, $50+ million deal. Maybe the fifth best RB in the conference, let alone the whole league, plus the 'skins lose the best CB in football AND a second-round pick.

Saying Snyder's going to get bitten on the ass by this deal is like saying Robert Shaw got bitten on the ass at the end of Jaws.

I have said from the beginning of this thread that I think trading for Portis is a great idea.

Giving him that much money is ridiculous. Portis still had a contract for about 6 figures a season. With nobody else seriously bidding against them, the Redskins just dump a truckload of money at him.

Even if Portis does run for 1,700 yards--in the end, this will cripple them with the salary cap.

The trade---brilliant. The contract---idiotic.

Well, he was talking about holding out in Denver to get more money, so he probably would have done the same thing in Washington.

Didn't know what you were trying to say about Olandis Gray, but he isn't even on the Broncoes anymore.

It's Quentin Griffin now...sorry if I misunderstood you.

He was saying (I believe) that if Olandis Gary can rush for 1000 yards in the Denver system, they won't have a problem getting another back plugged in for a great season. That back being Griffin, like you said.

Exactly :thumbsup:

I guy on another board made this point, and I think it fits well...

Can't wait for Portis to come. :D.

Well it's official now. Here is a Bronco's biased article on the final trade. I still say its a good trade for both teams.

Well, I guess we know which is more important to Portis: Money or winning.
Good luck on the 600 yard season behind that (n)O-Line.