Revisiting the Trade

After traveling to Maine, I hoped I might return to a different Redskins landscape.  That was wishful thinking, to say the least, so I found myself waxing nostalgic of times past.  And if there’s one moment that deserves to be revisited, it’s the Portis-Bailey trade, particularly during the week in which Champ Bailey says goodbye to the game.

What makes the trade so memorable is its unique character.  Not only is the NFL notoriously trade-shy, but Pro Bowl caliber players are not normally traded, especially for each other.

At the time, the trade seemed to make some sense.  The Redskins’ leading rusher in the 2003 season was Trung Canidate, with 600 yards on the ground.  Steve Spurrier was out as head coach, meaning a reversion to a new offensive scheme seemed likely.  Portis had just completed two 1500+ yard seasons in Denver, and was named to the Pro Bowl.

Bailey, a top-10 overall pick in 1999, had a contract renegotiation coming after the 2003 season.  And things looked stormy, given his four straight Pro Bowls and amassing 17 interceptions since joining the NFL.  He was due for a large raise.  When Denver popped up as a destination, he jumped at the opportunity, given their 10-6 record the year before and Washington’s habitual ineptitude.

The results of this deal are tough to interpret.  Portis put up 1200 yards or more in four of his first five DC seasons, during which time the Skins made the playoffs twice.  Bailey went to Denver at the peak of his powers, and continued his dominance.  He went to three straight Pro Bowls, and was named an All-Pro during those first three seasons in Denver. 

After Portis’ first five seasons, his production dropped dramatically, primarily due to injury.  He would be gone from the team in 2010, and never played another NFL game.  Bailey, on the other hand, played at a high level until the 2012 playoffs, where he was exposed particularly during the game against the Broncos.  He played only five games last year, was released by Denver, and was unable to make a roster prior to this season.

For a long time, I thought the results of this trade overwhelmingly favored Denver.  Upon further re-evaluation, it seems like this trade still was a better deal for Denver, but the Skins gained a key asset for their team.  Realistically, NFL trades are tough to forecast, particularly when running backs are involved.  I find it tough to believe that Washington saw Bailey playing at such a high level for so long (Bailey added seven Pro Bowls to his resume while in Denver).  That said, given the gradual disappearance of the workhorse running back, that Portis put up such great numbers in his first five years is remarkable.  It would be tough to blame the trade for the team’s failures during those years, as Portis was undoubtedly exceptional.

But, Denver won this trade.  Bailey was easily one of the elite cornerbacks during his tenure there, and I would bet only one Pro Bowl invite was on reputation rather than performance.  To exacerbate matters, the Washington pass defense became absolutely porous during the Gibbs and Zorn years, partially due to the tragic death of Sean Taylor but mainly due to an obvious lack of talent.  The Broncos had only two sub-.500 years with Bailey in the secondary, and teams quickly learned not to throw his way.  To top it off, Bailey will unquestionably be a Hall of Famer, likely on his first year of eligibility.

I wish I had more time to watch Champ Bailey in DC.  He’s had a great career, and deserves all the accolades.  (Unlike the Redskins, who as I write this are on their way to losing to the one-win Buccaneers).

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