Factoid
Wondering who the Broncos' starting running back will be this season? You're not alone: Denver doesn't know either. Injuries forced the team to start a myriad of players at the position last year; in fact, they've had 12 different ballcarriers over the last two seasons.
Based on the last two years, it looks like the Broncos could have saved themselves a lot of uncertainty by simply hanging onto the tailback they dealt to Washington, Clinton Portis.
2008
Broncos: 1558 yards, 13 TDs
Portis: 1487 yards, 9 TDs
2007
Broncos: 1698 yards, 9 TDs
Portis: 1262 yards, 11 TDs
Totals:
Broncos RBs: 3256 rushing yards, 22 TDs
Clinton Portis: 2749 rushing yards, 20 TDs
--Andy Richardson
- Comments [2]
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Posted by MICHAEL ROPER | Feb. 26 at 03:19 AM
I don't get it. Your stats seem to go against the point you're trying to make. You say the Broncos should of held on to Portis, but the numbers show that their RB's have outrushed him 2 years in a row and they happened to add a Pro Bowl CB in the process. They don't care that it took 7 different guys to get that number, I'm guessing they're plenty happy that got their only qualified defensive starter in exchange for a guy who a collection of free agents and 2nd day draft picks have outproduced.
Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | Feb. 26 at 03:36 AM
Yeah, that's essentially what Ian said to me, too. I guess I look at it as, they've used a ton of different players to get the same production as the guy they traded -- wouldn't it have been nice to have one guy to plug in week after week? Plus they don't know who will start this year, while Portis will be starting in Washington. Moreover, what if Portis had been their No. 1 the last few years, plus they still had guys like Selvin Young et al as their No. 2 and 3 guys? Their overall rushing numbers would be even better -- Portis plus Young plus Pittman (for example) rather than seven different guys compiling similar numbers to Portis. Anyway though, yeah, I see your point and it's the one Ian made to me as well, I was just looking at it differently....