HAHAHA!!! Broncos gonna trade Portis for Bailey. Other rumours...

[a_random_joel]

Apparently this is an all but done deal. The only thing holding up the deal are the two player's contracts.

Redskins CB Champ Bailey for Denver RB Clinton Portis

Champ is a stud cover corner, no question, but to give up a proven back only 2 years into his career? Dumb move IMO.

The NFL free agency period looks like it's gonna be a doozy this year. Another reported rumour is Galloway being traded from Dallas for Keyshawn of the Bucs.

Pro-Bowl LB Armstead and DE sackmaster Bruce Smith were cut by Redskins. They are also apparently getting Mark Brunnell from the Jags.

Also, it seems Miami will be getting AJ Feely from the Eagles, which leads to specualtion that Fiedler will be traded.

Don't be surprised if the following players find new homes:

Owens - Niners
Garcia - Niners
Plummer - Niners
Fiedler - Dolphins
Kearse - Titans
Smith - Titans
Sapp - Bucs
Griffin - Giants
Springs - Seahawks
Holdman - Bears
Daniels - Bears
White - Bears
Warner - Rams
Wistrom - Rams
Taylor - Eagles

To name but a few of the bigger fish out there...

[YEM]

1. As long as the Birds get someone who can catch...

I'll be happy. I can't watch anotther season of "dropsies" and bad routes.

[denverbill]

2. Pro Bowl running backs are a dime a dozen.

Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, and now Clinton Portis. So what? You lose one Pro Bowler, you just draft another guy in the 3rd round that runs for 1500 yards and makes the Pro Bowl. It's easy.

[SEAburb]

3. It's a lot harder to find a great CB

I think this is a good deal for both teams.

[a_random_joel]

5. It may be harder to find a great CB

But a CB does not have nearly the impact on a game as a RB.

[northzax]

6. yes, he can

a great one. And when you combine two great ones, Bailey and Smoot, you basically force the other team into 3 wideout sets. I'd much rather have a shut down corner that a two season running back.

[a_random_joel]

8. Interesting

Your strategy revolves around having two great cover corners.

We were discussing one single cover corner.

And no, one single cover corner does not have the impact on a game that a great RB has, from a scoring perspective, clock management perspective, wear the other team down perspective, picking up the blitz, catching out of the backfield... the list goes on.

I have seen many teams play against a great corner. They just stay away from him and throw to the other receivers. Or they RUN. If they have a good RB, that is.

[northzax]

13. right

but since the 'skins have a second cover corner who is well above average, it works for them.

Second off, The Broncos seem to develop a great running back every two years or so, and he only lasts for a couple of years, maybe it's the system?

[Catholic Sensation]

10. Smoot isn't great

by any stretch of the imagination

[a_random_joel]

4. Broncos have been very lucky

But Pro Bowl RBs are NOT a dime a dozen. Look around the league.

This is a very dumb move.

[denverbill]

7. I was kinda joking about that part.

But only kinda.

You've got to admit the Broncos have had a plethora lately, which makes you wonder how much of it is due to their offensive line/play-calling/whatever.

I think a lot of the impetus for this is Portis talk about contract renegotiation. I can't remember his deal, but I think they said it was 4 years, $900,000/year or something like that (or maybe 4 years, $900,000 total). He is correct that by league standards, he is VASTLY underpaid. But he is the one who signed the deal. He could've refused. He could've signed a one-year deal. He could've gotten performance bonuses.

Prima donna whiners.

[kher-heb]

9. I love the O-Line strategy

I remember when Dan Neil and Priest Holmes were together on the Longhorns steamrolling everyone.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

11. I agree...

Bailey for Portis? Bad move Denver!! Good move for Washington. They haven't been the same since they lost Davis.

I heard rumor that Kearse is staying with the Titans.

[Catholic Sensation]

12. Great move for denver

eh move for washington

The titans didn't designate kearse as a franchise player, so he'll probably chase the money and go elsewhere

[Awsi Dooger]

14. Pure idiocy to surrender a young franchise back who averages 5.6 YPA

That's surreal, in the Jim Brown stratosphere. None of the other Denver backs have managed that plateau. They'll never find a replacement who threatens to.

I'm a Dolphin fan who can attest that lockdown corners nor a terrific running back guarantees anything. But I'll suffer with the tailback every time.

[KG]

15. there is also a cap space issue for the 'skins

champ is a free agent and wants top dollar, the 'skins don't have much cap space, and badly need some top shelf def. linemen. the 'skins could keep champ another year with the franchise tag but he'd be gone next year. this deal works out for the skins, getting a quality impact player for much less money.

not sure why the skins felt they needed brunnell tho. :shrug: