WARHORSE
01-07-2010, 11:47 AM
Despite 32 NFL teams doing business in 32 places, probably no two teams have swapped players or draft picks more in recent years than the Broncos and the Washington Redskins.
Former Broncos coach Mike Shana-han was introduced Wednesday as the Redskins' new coach in search of new players, meaning Denver may have a willing suitor for players it wants to unload. Shanahan won't need directory assistance to get the phones ringing.
"I know in my time, we always had a feeling Denver would kind of do a deal when it was time," former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "And we were always willing to do things too. Neither team was hesitant about getting to it."
In recent seasons the Broncos and Redskins have manufactured the
NFL
View slide show of former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.
rare blockbuster trade — Clinton Portis for Champ Bailey and a draft pick. They have swapped first-round draft picks. And they have been part of a multiteam deal that sent disgruntled wide receiver Ashley Lelie to the Atlanta Falcons.
The teams have been so willing to deal that even after the Broncos signed Dre Bly out from under the Redskins in 2007, the Redskins still pursued Bly in a trade in the days that followed by offering Shanahan a deal that included Shawn Springs.
"It's one of those places where they want a winner and the team does whatever it takes," said Bailey, who played five seasons for Washington to go with his six for Denver since the 2004 trade. "And you would expect with (owner Daniel Snyder) and Coach Shanahan, they'll do whatever it takes. If anybody can turn it around, (Shanahan) can."
Don't be surprised if Shanahan and the Redskins are interested in restricted free agents such as Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall, tight end Tony Scheffler and guard Chris Kuper. Marshall and Scheffler almost certainly are headed elsewhere after being benched by Broncos coach Josh McDaniels for the season finale. Both would fit quickly into the Redskins' new playbook.
Washington, with many holes to fill along the offensive line, will be adjusting to Shanahan's zone-blocking run game, which calls for smaller, quicker linemen. The Redskins, who were battered by injuries up front this season, have not stocked their line in recent drafts, having selected only two offensive linemen over the past five drafts and only one offensive lineman in the first or second round in the past 10 drafts — left tackle Chris Samuels in the first round of the 2000 draft. Neck problems may have Samuels considering retirement.
That could put Kuper in demand by the Redskins. And because Snyder is one of the NFL's most free-spending owners, Shanahan will have the ability to send out plenty of offer sheets that are difficult for teams to match.
The Broncos, like any team, would have seven days to match an offer sheet for one of their restricted free agents after free agency opens in March.
Shanahan's hiring could affect the Broncos' coaching staff as well. McDaniels likely will make a few changes in the coming weeks.
Broncos offensive line coach Rick Dennison is being considered for the Houston Texans' offensive coordinator job. But Shanahan is poised to offer Dennison a job as well, two league sources said Tuesday night.
As of Wednesday afternoon, neither team had formally asked permission to interview Dennison. Broncos running backs coach Bobby Turner, strength and conditioning coach Rich Tuten, assistant strength coach Greg Saporta, special-teams assistant Keith Burns and director of football administration Mike Bluem all were longtime Shana-han associates who figure to draw interest from him.
And with final say over the Redskins' football operations, Shanahan promised Wednesday to move quickly and do "whatever it takes" to return the team to the playoffs.
"I'm looking forward to leading this football team. I'm excited to be here," Shanahan said at Redskins headquarters in Ashburn, Va. "I'm going to give it everything I've got."
And that might include some of what the Broncos have.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
Open for business
Even before former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan became coach of the Redskins this week, the teams were more than willing to make deals in recent years:
March 2004
Jolting the NFL, the Broncos traded running back Clinton Portis to the Redskins for cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round draft pick. The second-round pick became running back Tatum Bell in the draft that April.
April 2005
Denver traded the 25th pick in the draft to Washington for the Redskins' third-round pick in 2005 and first- and fourth- round picks in 2006. That first-round pick eventually became the 22nd pick, which the Broncos traded to the San Francisco 49ers on draft day in 2006 to move up and take quarterback Jay Cutler at No. 11 overall. Denver used the fourth-round pick from the Redskins trade that same year to select wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
August 2006
The Broncos, dealing with an unhappy wide receiver in Ashley Lelie, brokered a three- team trade involving the Redskins and Falcons. Lelie was traded to the Falcons, Atlanta running back T.J. Duckett went to the Redskins and two Washington draft picks — a third- rounder in the 2007 draft and a fourth-rounder in 2008 — went to the Broncos. The Broncos used the third-rounder to select offensive tackle Ryan Harris and used the fourth- rounder to select cornerback Jack Williams. Harris is a starter and Williams was released this past season when the Broncos signed Ty Law.
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_14137683#ixzz0bwiLOYL4
Former Broncos coach Mike Shana-han was introduced Wednesday as the Redskins' new coach in search of new players, meaning Denver may have a willing suitor for players it wants to unload. Shanahan won't need directory assistance to get the phones ringing.
"I know in my time, we always had a feeling Denver would kind of do a deal when it was time," former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "And we were always willing to do things too. Neither team was hesitant about getting to it."
In recent seasons the Broncos and Redskins have manufactured the
NFL
View slide show of former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.
rare blockbuster trade — Clinton Portis for Champ Bailey and a draft pick. They have swapped first-round draft picks. And they have been part of a multiteam deal that sent disgruntled wide receiver Ashley Lelie to the Atlanta Falcons.
The teams have been so willing to deal that even after the Broncos signed Dre Bly out from under the Redskins in 2007, the Redskins still pursued Bly in a trade in the days that followed by offering Shanahan a deal that included Shawn Springs.
"It's one of those places where they want a winner and the team does whatever it takes," said Bailey, who played five seasons for Washington to go with his six for Denver since the 2004 trade. "And you would expect with (owner Daniel Snyder) and Coach Shanahan, they'll do whatever it takes. If anybody can turn it around, (Shanahan) can."
Don't be surprised if Shanahan and the Redskins are interested in restricted free agents such as Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall, tight end Tony Scheffler and guard Chris Kuper. Marshall and Scheffler almost certainly are headed elsewhere after being benched by Broncos coach Josh McDaniels for the season finale. Both would fit quickly into the Redskins' new playbook.
Washington, with many holes to fill along the offensive line, will be adjusting to Shanahan's zone-blocking run game, which calls for smaller, quicker linemen. The Redskins, who were battered by injuries up front this season, have not stocked their line in recent drafts, having selected only two offensive linemen over the past five drafts and only one offensive lineman in the first or second round in the past 10 drafts — left tackle Chris Samuels in the first round of the 2000 draft. Neck problems may have Samuels considering retirement.
That could put Kuper in demand by the Redskins. And because Snyder is one of the NFL's most free-spending owners, Shanahan will have the ability to send out plenty of offer sheets that are difficult for teams to match.
The Broncos, like any team, would have seven days to match an offer sheet for one of their restricted free agents after free agency opens in March.
Shanahan's hiring could affect the Broncos' coaching staff as well. McDaniels likely will make a few changes in the coming weeks.
Broncos offensive line coach Rick Dennison is being considered for the Houston Texans' offensive coordinator job. But Shanahan is poised to offer Dennison a job as well, two league sources said Tuesday night.
As of Wednesday afternoon, neither team had formally asked permission to interview Dennison. Broncos running backs coach Bobby Turner, strength and conditioning coach Rich Tuten, assistant strength coach Greg Saporta, special-teams assistant Keith Burns and director of football administration Mike Bluem all were longtime Shana-han associates who figure to draw interest from him.
And with final say over the Redskins' football operations, Shanahan promised Wednesday to move quickly and do "whatever it takes" to return the team to the playoffs.
"I'm looking forward to leading this football team. I'm excited to be here," Shanahan said at Redskins headquarters in Ashburn, Va. "I'm going to give it everything I've got."
And that might include some of what the Broncos have.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
Open for business
Even before former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan became coach of the Redskins this week, the teams were more than willing to make deals in recent years:
March 2004
Jolting the NFL, the Broncos traded running back Clinton Portis to the Redskins for cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round draft pick. The second-round pick became running back Tatum Bell in the draft that April.
April 2005
Denver traded the 25th pick in the draft to Washington for the Redskins' third-round pick in 2005 and first- and fourth- round picks in 2006. That first-round pick eventually became the 22nd pick, which the Broncos traded to the San Francisco 49ers on draft day in 2006 to move up and take quarterback Jay Cutler at No. 11 overall. Denver used the fourth-round pick from the Redskins trade that same year to select wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
August 2006
The Broncos, dealing with an unhappy wide receiver in Ashley Lelie, brokered a three- team trade involving the Redskins and Falcons. Lelie was traded to the Falcons, Atlanta running back T.J. Duckett went to the Redskins and two Washington draft picks — a third- rounder in the 2007 draft and a fourth-rounder in 2008 — went to the Broncos. The Broncos used the third-rounder to select offensive tackle Ryan Harris and used the fourth- rounder to select cornerback Jack Williams. Harris is a starter and Williams was released this past season when the Broncos signed Ty Law.
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_14137683#ixzz0bwiLOYL4