Revisiting the Redskins-Broncos Champ Bailey-Clinton Portis Trade

Franchise tag issues date back to 2004, as Washington Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey refused to play for the team without a brand new contract after he was named a Pro Bowler for the fourth straight season.

Rather than give into his demands, the Redskins flipped him to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Clinton Portis, a 22-year-old running back fresh off running for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns on 5.5 yards per carry during his first two years in the league.

Bailey was already an All-Pro corner for Washington, but he truly became a legend in Denver. Bailey was named a First Team All-Pro three times while setting a record for Pro Bowl nominations by a defensive back with 12 total and picking off 52 passes. Bailey, one of the fastest players in NFL history, played 10 years in Denver, retiring in 2013 and being named a Hall of Famer in his first year of eligibility.

Portis morphed into a very solid running back. Portis, a former star at Miami, ran for 6,824 yards in seven seasons as a Redskin, scoring 51 total touchdowns.

Portis was no bum, but you would be hard pressed to find a Redskins fan who prefers Portis over Bailey.

Who Won The Trade?

Some would call this a "win-win" trade given how productive Portis was in Washington, but Bailey is one of the best defensive backs in the history of football, so Denver gets a slight edge. While Portis had his moments, we bet Dan Snyder would want this one back.