Portis Agrees to $51M Deal With Redskins

By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON - Clinton Portis agreed to an eight-year, $50.5 million contract with the Washington Redskins (news) on Monday, while Champ Bailey neared completion of a deal with the Denver Broncos (news) that would clear the way for a Portis-for-Bailey trade later this week.

Portis' deal, one of the richest ever for a running back, includes $17 million in bonus money, according to Portis' agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Portis is set to join quarterback Mark Brunell, who will be acquired in a trade with Jacksonville, in a revamped offense in coach Joe Gibbs' first season back in Washington.

First, however, the Broncos must agree to terms with Bailey, who would be sent from to Washington to Denver along with a second-round draft pick in exchange for Portis. Talks have gone well since Bailey's visit to Denver last week.

"Everything is skating right along schedule," Bailey's agent, Jack Reale, said Monday. "Things could be wrapped up quickly, maybe by tomorrow."

Trades cannot officially take place until the offseason trade and free agency period begins Wednesday, although they can be announced before then.

Portis' agreement represents another aggressive move by big-spending Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who didn't have to work out a new deal for the running back in order for the trade to take place. Portis' old, cap-friendly contract ran for two more years. Although he wanted a new deal after making just $300,000 last season, Washington was under no deadline to give him one.

This is also the second blockbuster contract Snyder has given a running back in four years. In 2000, he signed Stephen Davis to a nine-year, $90.75 million deal, but its long-term salary cap ramifications were so dire that Davis was cut one year ago and signed by Carolina.

The Portis-Broncos trade represents a rare swap of two young players hitting their prime. Bailey has been to four straight Pro Bowls and is one of the top shutdown cornerbacks in the league, while Portis has rushed for more than 1,500 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons.

Portis was scheduled to make $380,000 next season and $455,000 in 2005, a bargain price for a top running back. Portis' unhappiness with Denver's unwillingness to negotiate a new contract precipitated the trade talks.

The Redskins gave Bailey permission to talk to other teams and designated him as their franchise player last month. Bailey's contract expires this week, and he and the Redskins never came close to agreement on a new deal.

Wow, tha'ts a pretty penny, he's worth every cent though!

Well, the bottom line is that we wanted a top flight RB, and now we have one. Living in Chicago, I have to stress how nice it is to see an organization try to go out and get what they need, not rehab other teams rejects. In sports you're damned if you do, and damned if you don't. Owners that go and buy up everything get ragged on, and owners that are stingy get ragged on.

I support the effort. 100%

Still cheaper than the $50M six year deal tha Champ Bailey is set sign with Denver. I think we got a better cap deal than Denver.

Still cheaper than the $50M six year deal tha Champ Bailey is set sign with Denver. I think we got a better cap deal than Denver.

That was the first thing that struck me about the deal, less than we'd offered Bailey. Nice. This puts us in a much stronger position.

Sadistic, you guys have a pretty good RB, and I feel bad for Jaron, I thought he was finally turning it around. The A-Train came on late in the year, I think he'll do better next year.

I like having him but is his size going to hurt him down the line? What about the other running backs on the team? What about the line with little draft picks? But then again it really not this coming year we are going to talk about super bowl it will most likely take another draft to get there!undefined

He's 5'11 209? That's not that undersized. He'll be fine, I wouldn't suggest slamming him up the middle 8 times on a goal line stand. Be nice to use Bryan Johnson or Rock in that situation. Even though Rock failed us quite a few times last year in short yardage situations.

Wait a minute here. I HATE this deal. It is dumb, dumb, dumb. I thought we were going to resign Portis, but for this much! No WAY! We're going to have to pay the Pied Piper some day and this deal makes our tab that much worse.

Portis had no leverage in negotiations; he already backed off that statement that he would hold out of training camp and he was getting paid squat for the next two years. So what does Snyder do? He goes and makes Portis the highest paid back in the league. Wow, that's some slick negotiating, we really stuck it to Portis and his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Portis may be worth every penny and Bailey's deal might have been less cap friendly, but I am certain that we could have got Portis for less money.

Ramseyfan is excactly right here, Dan Synder REALLY screwed this one up. Portis had no leverage in neg. and we still once again overpayed big time. You can't do that with the salary cap. I can't believe this crap. Portis is gonna be the highest paid RB in the league but he certainly is not the best. We don't even know how good he's gonna be w-out the denver o-line. THIS IS EXCATLY WHY WE NEED A GM.

WHERE GONE BURN IN SALARY CAP HELL!