Missing Champ Bailey...

[Hogskin]

Originally Posted by That Guy

right, people keep trying to figure out who got the better end of the deal, but honestly, I think both teams came out ahead.

champ was NOT going to stay here, so we got a top five running game out of it... something we desperately needed, and something gibbs would hate to be without. Champ was replaced by extensive secondary depth which should counteract his loss.

denver got an improved secondary so its no longer the sad excuse it was... they gave up a big back who was (rightfully) a bit miffed about earning minimum wage... they lost him, but already had good depth at RB and a good O-line to help out.

Well, I believe that by the middle of the season, this trade is going to be one of the all-time NFL laughers. I disagree that Denver is deep at RB. Portis is definitely the real thing. Terrell Davis was the real thing. The rest of the guys that went through there were the very lucky recipients of easy yardage thanks to one of the best OL's in the league. But the OL coach has moved on to Atlanta. Redskin fans have seen what that means. The Denver fans that have grown to think you can put anyone in the Denver backfield, and he will be an immediate stud, are in for a very rude awakening, and a disappointing season.

Even if Champ has a better season in Denver than he had last year, he will not have NEARLY the "impact" a stud RB would have. One very good CB? There are lots of other places on the field to throw - you can effectively take him out of the game. But a stud RB takes the game to the defense, and will impact every game.

[memphisskin]

Originally Posted by Hogskin

But the OL coach has moved on to Atlanta. Redskin fans have seen what that means. The Denver fans that have grown to think you can put anyone in the Denver backfield, and he will be an immediate stud, are in for a very rude awakening, and a disappointing season.

Exactly. Shanahan is not the most humble of coaches, and while you cannot argue with the string of success that he's had with RBs the loss of Alex Gibbs will loom large this season. I mean the guy retired once before and they brought him back as a consultant because the OL play had begun to suffer.

What greater irony is there than the Broncos being able to plug in any back and have a successful running game after ALL those years of struggling to find any back to run when Elway was there? Or am I just showing my age again?

BTW, I just love the Frerotte icon. What a maroon!