Post: Full Portis Article; McCants Tendered?

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Post: Full Portis Article; McCants Tendered?

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Redskins, Portis Agree on Contract
He Could Earn Over $50 Million if Trade Made With Broncos

By Nunyo Demasio
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 2, 2004; Page D01

Denver Broncos running back Clinton Portis reached agreement with the Washington Redskins yesterday on an eight-year, $50.5 million contract that will make him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, according to two sources with knowledge of the agreement.

The Portis deal, one of the richest for a tailback in league history, includes a combined signing bonus of $17 million, the sources said. It comes as Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey neared completion of a contract with the Broncos that would pave the way for a Bailey-for-Portis trade once the NFL free agency period begins on Wednesday.

The Redskins also would send their second-round pick in April's NFL draft to Denver for Portis, 22, a quick, slashing tailback who has run for more than 3,000 yards and scored 29 touchdowns in his two seasons in the league.

Bailey is finalizing a new deal with the Broncos that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in league history, according to another source familiar with negotiations.

"I can't tell you anything specific," Portis's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said last night when reached by telephone at his Miami Beach office. "I anticipate the [trade] with the Redskins getting done. Clinton is very excited about becoming a Redskin soon."

The Portis contract is the latest offseason splash for the Redskins under new coach Joe Gibbs and team owner Daniel Snyder. Two weeks ago, the Redskins completed negotiations on a trade for Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell, an 11-year veteran, by agreeing on a seven-year, $43 million deal that included a signing bonus of $8.6 million.

Those two moves are believed to be merely a precursor, however, to another free agent binge by the Redskins. The team, which has maneuvered to get roughly $11 million under the salary cap, intends to aggressively pursue top free agents, particularly to fill defensive needs.

Rosenhaus also represents Jevon Kearse of the Tennessee Titans, one of the league's top defensive ends and an unrestricted free agent. According to a source familiar with the situation, the Redskins are a leading candidate to land Kearse, who is seeking a signing bonus of at least $18 million.

The source, as with several others interviewed for this article, demanded anonymity, citing the sensitivity of free agent maneuvering and contract negotiations.

Portis initially requested a combined signing bonus of $20 million, according to one NFL source, causing the Redskins to postpone negotiations. Last week, the Redskins said they planned to sign Portis later in the offseason. But talks picked up in recent days, leading to yesterday's agreement.

Redskins officials at Redskins Park declined to comment on the Portis deal.

Portis became available after hinting at the Pro Bowl last month that he would hold out without a new contract. Portis had two years remaining on his rookie deal -- a salary of $380,000 in 2004 and $455,000 in 2005. Denver Coach Mike Shanahan, who has a policy against renegotiating contracts with more than one year left, subsequently put Portis on the trading block, with an initial asking price of a first-round and a second-round pick.

Portis's new signing bonus -- believed to be $13 million paid immediately and a roster bonus of $4 million -- dwarfs his rookie signing bonus of $1.3 million. Based on how Snyder usually structures rich contracts, Portis's deal is heavily back-loaded with minimum annual salaries, making him a risk to be waived in five or six years if he doesn't restructure.

Some league executives said yesterday the Redskins were getting a top-flight back in Portis, but wondered whether the team would eventually find itself in salary cap trouble.

"If the Redskins think it's worth it, then it's worth it," Baltimore Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome said yesterday. "He's a good player. You only have to have one team willing to pay that number. The salary cap, at some point, will get them."




Portis is only the third player in NFL history to rush for at least 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time last season after rushing for 1,591 yards -- fourth in the NFL -- and 14 touchdowns with 5.5 yards per carry. Portis fumbled only three times, losing just one. In 2001, Portis was named NFL rookie of the year after rushing for 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns.

At 5 feet 11 and 205 pounds, Portis is small for a back, but his shiftiness and slithering moves make him a big-gain threat every time he touches the ball. Although a power runner is ideal in Gibbs's run-oriented offense, Gibbs won with various types of runners during his first Redskins tenure.

"We had the good guy in John Riggins. We had Joe Washington," Gibbs said last week. Gibbs won three Super Bowls with different tailbacks, including Ernest Byner. "To me, running backs kind of come in all packages and sizes. Ernest Byner was a particular kind of guy that was kind of in the middle. So what you're looking for is just a real good running back."

Redskins Notes: The Redskins have made the lowest tender offer for all their restricted free agents, including wide receiver Darnerien McCants. The moves -- executed before yesterday's 3 p.m. deadline -- make Washington's four restricted free agents more likely to receive offers from other teams. However, the Redskins can match any offer, and say they intend to use the right if necessary.

"We're familiar with the restricted game," Vice President Vinny Cerrato said. "If somebody wants to go after our guys, we look forward to matching the offer."

Washington's other restricted free agents are fullback Bryan Johnson, safety Ifeanyi Ohalete and linebacker Antonio Pierce.

The NFL deadline for matching a contract offer is April 16.

Last season, McCants scored six touchdowns to tie Laveranues Coles with the team lead.

This year's low tender offer cost $628,000, which counts for that amount against the salary cap. If another team signs a restricted free agent, that club must give up a draft pick from the round in which the player was selected. Since McCants was chosen in the fifth round, he is expected to draw much interest. The mid-level tender of $1.368 million would have cost a team a first-round pick to sign McCants.

"This will tell me how the rest of the league sees me," McCants said. "I'm not worried at all. I definitely would love to play for Coach Gibbs. Plus, it's great to play in your home town. If I get a big offer, hopefully the Redskins will stick to their word and match."

Staff writer Leonard Shapiro contributed to this report.


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Post by hailskins666 »

great news. i'm glad that none of our RFA's will hit the open market. at least we have the right to match.
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Post by redskins56 »

DMAC is a low key Wide out that will be very productive for a long time. Very nice, engaging guy with dynamic personality. Gotta love him.

All the boy does is catch TD's...

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Post by redskin mark »

I really dig D-Mac. I say he is given an opportunity to battle w/Gardner during camp.

As a possession receiver, this guy is a stud, and proved it w/limited touches.

He uses his body very well in shielding off D backs.

Just changed my Avatar in hopes of having the Skins match any offers. :rock:
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Post by SkinsChic »

They better keep Darnerien around. I'm sure Coach Gibbs doesn't want to hear from me on this. :-)
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