Just read that Denver is talking about trading Clinton Portis to Washington for Champ Bailey and Washington's second round pick. I am a huge Denver Bronco fan, have been for over half my life. This is most disturbing to hear, and I had nowhere else to air my disbelief.

Portis is 22 years old, has 3099 yards and 29 touchdowns in only two seasons, averaging 5.5 yards per carry over that span! I know he is unhappy with his contract, but come on. He is considered one of the top 5 backs in the league and is making a fraction of what other's are.

Obviously, you know what I think on this trade, but I am interested in hearing what other football fans on AD think.

C'mon Slim it should be painfully obvious. The Broncos picked up Jake Plummer who spent his many years with the Cards. Now after so long with Bidwell he has become infected and is now a carrier of the Bidwell cheap loser virus. It has been spread to the Broncos management. This is only the first sign(losing one of the potentially greatest players of all time cause he wants deservedly more money) Next they will pick the worst players in recorded history and completely demoralize their team. The fans are next. They will be abused and mistreated and taken for granted and shysted.

Hate to rain on the parade--but isn't it the Redskins that are smoking something? Lock-down corners are harder to come by than running backs, and probably affect the team more. They're giving that up, PLUS a draft pick? Denver is deep in running backs (further proving my point)--they should take that trade all day long, and twice on Sunday.

I don't like trading the focal point of our offense for a DB. Especially considering that both Sharpe and McCaffrey are probably going to retire, leaving us with an aging Rod Smith and an unproven Ashley Lelie as the only options for Plummer to throw to. Now, we won't even have a proven RB to rely on. We can only hope and pray that Quentin Griffin (5'7") and Ahmaad Galloway(no action as a rookie) can pick up the slack. They are both coming off of injuries, Griffin broke a leg during preseason last year and Galloway did not play because of an ACL tear his senior year. On top of this, the Broncos are expected to cut Mike Anderson later this week, leaving Reuben Droughns to start at FB!

I want to cry.

At least Ryan Leaf isn't in the draft this year and Bill Callahan is in Nebraska! I'm surprised we don't offer to trade Plummer and Trevor Pryce for the rights to those two!

Woo-hoo! Sports talk!

The way I've heard it explained is the Broncos have busted out with their cornerbacks like Deltha O' Neal and Willie Middlebrooks. O' Neal apparently is being moved to wide receiver.

They liked what they saw with Quentin Griffin in his limited action. It's not the Broncos running backs that are so extraordinary, it's the blocking scheme that makes Clinton Portis, Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary and Griffin look so good. Might be something to that school of thought.

I think it's a win-win for both teams if the Broncos can get a shut-down corner. Who was the last guy on that team you could say that about?

1,000 yard rushers are a dime a dozen. Cornerbacks that can lock up a wide-out all by their lonesome are far more valuable an asset in today's NFL.

I've been a Bronco fan since they started back in 1960 and the more I think about this trade, the better I like it. Clinton Portis is an outstanding RB, no question about that, but he can be replaced I think with Quentin Griffin who looked like a second-coming of Barry Sanders against Indy this past season and people have told me that Ahmad Galloway is a real stud, but I've never seen him play. With Champ Bailey though they'd be getting someone really special at playing what I consider to be the most physically difficult postion in the NFL. You just don't come across players like that every day. Overall I think the Broncos are a much better team with Champ than they are with Clinton.

Edited to add......

As far as the size thing with Griffin is concerned, he's pretty short and difficult to pick up coming out of the backfield behind the offensive line, but he only weighs 10 pounds less that Clinton Portis does. The guy's like a bowling ball back there.

I think with the trend of taller/bigger/faster receivers the corners are becoming more valuable (always felt next to the QB they were the most important position). But Portis is a hammer, tough decision.

What ever move it takes to weaken that team for my spiraling Raiders I'd gree with!

I like this trade for the Broncos. It is the line not the backs that carries Denver. I mean Davis,Gary,Anderson and now Portis have all gained well over a thousand yards with the broncos as a rusher. Anybody they throw in that backfield will get at least 1,200. In Bailey you get one of a handful of shutdown corners in the league. The cornerback in the NFL is fast becoming the equivalent of a closer in baseball. Having a shutdown corner is a rarity. Just another in a trend of backs gaining massive yards because of a superb o-line isnt. I mean the Broncos halfback once broke 1,500 rushing. It's the line not Portis.

Here! Here! It's a sad time for the Raider nation...I am reminded of a sign I saw once in Arrowhead stadium (where Raider hating is taken to extreme). It said, in the traditional silver and black:

Commitment to excrement.

(play on the long standing Raider 'Commitment to Excellence).

I had to hand it to them--an inspired sign! Now to take steps to ensure it isn't true!

Raiders fans.... Baaaaa....

Lots of talk about this trade on various Bronco forums and I think Bronco fans are beginning to warm up to the idea of making this trade. It helped that Bailey showed up in Denver with his wife and child and started talking about how he'd like to move his family to Denver and live there year round. One of the beefs the Broncos had with Clinton Portis was that he didn't want to stay in Denver in the off-season and work out with the team prefering to go back to Miami and work out with some of his NFL friends there instead. It also raised some eyebrows in Broncoland when Bailey said he would like the chance to play some offense at WR in addition to his CB duties on defense. Have to think on that one...

Anyway, the Broncos have called a press conference for next Thursday and Bailey's agent has stated that they have a written contract offer from the Broncos that he has to review over the next couple of days, so it looks like this deal is going to happen. Now we just have to wait for the season to start. Thank goodness for NASCAR!!

The second shoe has fallen

In addition to Washington giving Denver a second round draft choice, Champ Bailey has now agreed to a seven-year, $63 million contract following the eight-year, $50.5 million contract Clinton Portis agreed to on Monday. The deals make Champ and Portis the highest paid cornerback and running back (respectively) in the history of the NFL.

I agree with the analysis of this trade I have read from both NFL.com and ESPN.com. While Quentin Griffin hasn't played much outside his stellar performance in Indianapolis, it does appear that anybody the Broncos put in the backfield can run behind their line. Rod Smith is still a reliable receiver and Lelie's improving performance near the end of the season I think speaks well for his future on the team. The blocking of the O-line coupled with a stable passing game should allow Griffin to at least prove a 1,000 yard rusher if not a 1,500 gainer like Portis.

The rest of their defense appears to be pretty solid as they were an overall 4th in the NFL at the end of last season. The addition of Bailey should only help them improve and as the saying goes, "defense wins championships."

All that being said, I think the amount of money being doled out by each franchise is ridiculous, regardless of how good both these players are. Washington seems to be in perpetual salary cap hell, yet they've gone and spent a fortune on ex-Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell and Portis... and they're still looking to sign more expensive free agents like Tennessee's defensive end Jevon Kearse. These additions and pursuits combined with their high priced additions of three key New York Jets last season leaves me wondering where this team will be in coming seasons. They've acquired some great players at skill positions, but these acquisitions will mean nothing if they have no lines to support them. I think they're not only screwed for the coming season but for many seasons to become.

As a fan of Clinton Portis, I'm sad to think his status as an elite back may be in serious peril next season. I don't see another 1,500 yard year behind the O-line of Washington and almost question whether he'll be able to break 1,100 or avoid serious injury...

I think Denver is clearly the winner in the trade though, but I do share sympathies with Portis fans.

Another interesting trade rumor is floating around about a possible trade of Vikings WR Moss to the Miami Dolphins for two or three key defensive players...

As much as Miami fans have been dying for a good receiver since OJ McDuffie was forced to the sidelines, this rumor doesn't make much sense. Wannstedt doesn't like players who hog the spotlight or get arrested; they are a detriment to the team chemistry.

The Randy Moss show wouldn't go over as big in Miami either; too much competition from the local crowd on South Beach. For the same reason, Miami won't pursue Terrell Owens if he ever gets free from his contract issues; his mouth is bigger than his talent and his talent is considerable.

I wouldn't be surprised, though, if Miami went after Keyshawn Johnson with a one-or two-year offer.

I'd be surprised too if Miami goes after a big-name/problem child WR this year. Mainly because the draft is so deep in WRs, some say it's the best class ever at that position. I would think Miami would be more inclined to to get their guy through the draft than a trade/FA route.

While I know what Champ Bailey should bring to the Broncos, I don't like having to give up Portis to get him. I don't care how much of the credit you give to the O-line, that kid can flat out run. He is a rare talent, and I hate to see him go. While he only has two years in the league, he has earned a place in Bronco history and with at least one fane forever!

BTW, Kearse agreed to sign with the Eagles today, an 8 year/$66 million deal with a $16 million signing bonus ESPN.com. And, for what it's worth, the Vikings are denying any interest in trading Randy Moss ESPN.com.