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According to Denver Post sports writer Adam Schefter, Clinton Portis is the latest Pro Bowl running back to catch the interest of the Redskins with team officials in Washington and Denver said to be closing in on a blockbuster deal that would send Pro Bowl halfback to Washington for Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey.

In addition to Bailey, league sources told Schefter that Denver is asking for Washington's second-round pick in the April draft.

In case you missed it yesterday, Tacoma News Tribune beat man Mike Sando hinted the Redskins might be interested trading Bailey for Shaun Alexander.

However, the Post report seems to have more bite, despite the fact that up until now the Redskins have balked at surrendering a draft pick. In fact, Schefter contends that at least two other sources close to the Redskins say the deal, which would be one of the biggest in football history, "is all but done."

ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli cited a source intimately involved in the negotiations as saying late Sunday night: "You definitely need to stay close on this one. There's a whole lot going on. There are a few sticking points but, if you asked me will it get done, I'd tell you, 'yeah, I think so.'"

The Broncos are trying to first finalize a new contract with Pro Bowl middle linebacker Al Wilson before dealing with the Redskins. The Wilson deal could be completed today.

But if the trade between Denver and Washington were completed, Bailey then would need to be signed as well -- likely to a lucrative contract.

This is the reason trade talks even began to percolate. Washington grew frustrated over its stalled negotiations with Bailey, and Denver does not want to negotiate a new deal with Portis, who still has two years remaining on his contract.

A Denver deal with Bailey might not be as difficult. Bailey's agent, Jack Reale, has worked with the Broncos on numerous contracts in the past, including kicker Jason Elam's in February 2003.

The NFL trading period opens March 3, but the Broncos and Redskins could agree to a deal before then -- if as Schefter wrote, "they haven't already." The Redskins appear to be soliciting offers from, among others, the Detroit Lions, New York Jets and Houston Texans.

"As to who we'd be interested in, right now that's something we want to keep to ourselves," Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs said over the weekend.

Adding to intrigue here is the fact two player agents who represent NFL running backs eligible to become unrestricted free agents next month told Pasquarelli that they approached the Redskins to make a pitch for their clients. Both agents assumed that, with the Redskins in need of a back to bolster the power running game Gibbs prefers, they might be able to fuel some interest in their clients.

Both were apprised by Redskins officials that the franchise was on the verge of a blockbuster deal for a premier running back. "One of their top officials basically told me that, while my guy is a good player, they had something else going at tailback and that it was huge," one of the agents claimed.

Contacted by Schefter, Broncos officials declined to comment on the possible deal.

For what it's worth, there are questions within the Broncos organization about whether Quentin Griffin, Ahmaad Galloway and Mike Anderson would be good enough to carry the team through the playoffs.

And Schefter went on to suggest that if Denver lands the extra pick from Washington, the team would be positioned to draft one of this year's higher-rated running backs, perhaps even former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, with whom Broncos officials met last Thursday.

And of course, Denver's defense would be instantly upgraded by such a deal. Bailey would be the prototype cornerback the Broncos have coveted since they showered millions on Dale Carter during the 1999 offseason. Bailey, 25, is regarded as one of the game's top cornerbacks.

Denver's secondary could use the help. In its first playoff appearance since the 2000 season, Denver allowed Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning to complete 22 of 26 passes for 377 yards and five touchdowns.

But as Schefter correctly pointed out, the only way to get a player of Bailey's abilities is to surrender a younger and more productive one. Ordinarily, Denver would not consider trading Portis. However, the organization is leery of Portis' request for a new contract at a time when he has two years remaining on his current one.

I'll go ahead and take a moment here to stress the same notion I stressed yesterday: Player for player deals are a rarity in the NFL. And if this one actually comes to fruition, it would almost certainly go down as one of the biggest in league history.

I'll also remind you that other issues could complicate the potential Portis for Bailey trade.

According to Rocky Mountain News staffer Lee Rasizer, Anderson, the 2000 NFL Rookie of the Year, has requested his release after the team proposed cutting his salary to the veteran minimum with incentives in order to create salary-cap room.

Agent David Canter, hired last week by Anderson, met with Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist on Saturday night. The session came after Anderson met several days earlier in with head coach Mike Shanahan, who presented Anderson with his options.

The Broncos are looking to pare at least $4.2 million off their salary cap before March 3 to conform with league guidelines but need more wiggle room financially for free agency and the draft. Releasing Anderson would wipe his scheduled $1.755 million base salary off the books and save $1.255 million in cap room. An incentive-based contract with a $535,000 veteran minimum salary would almost duplicate that savings.

That proposal officially has not been presented, though, only discussed, according to Canter.

"We're willing to listen to any situation. It's not dead in the water," he said. But Anderson would rather test free agency than accept any significant contract revision.

"I've spoken with my client, and he's made it clear he wants to see what else is out there because the Broncos have made it clear that there's a youth movement going on, and that youth movement doesn't have Mike Anderson as a priority," Canter said.

"There's also Clinton Portis, Quentin Griffin, Reuben Droughns and Ahmaad Galloway to consider in the backfield. And to do a contract with play-time, give-back money for a guy who would be going into training camp at No. 2 on the depth chart at both positions -- maybe No. 3 at the running back position -- is probably not the most intelligent thing to do, since Mike Anderson hasn't had much mileage in the last few years and has plenty of ability left."

A report published Sunday indicated the Broncos have decided to release Anderson, who switched primarily to fullback two seasons ago. Canter said he hasn't been told that.

"There wasn't a clear understanding of exactly what was going to be done if he refused the pay cut," Canter said.

Releasing Anderson could prove risky in the short term. Fullback Droughns is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. Should Anderson depart before Droughns signs, it would provide Droughns additional leverage in negotiations.

If released, Anderson would enter perhaps one of the thinnest positions on the open market. Duce Staley of Philadelphia and Charlie Garner of Oakland head the list of available running backs.

"I would be shocked if most teams don't view him as an every-down back that's an upgrade," Canter said of Anderson.

Anderson's big chance came after Olandis Gary and Terrell Davis were injured, and the former Marine responded by posting a then-franchise record for a first-year player, with 1,487 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. But after the 2001 season, he accepted his position switch to become primarily a blocker. Anderson's carries have declined in each of the past three years -- from 175 in 2001 to 84 in 2002 to 70 last season -- and he has gained only 1,321 yards since that stellar rookie campaign.

Last season, he was given a four-game league suspension for violating the NFL substance abuse policy when he tested positive for trace amounts of marijuana he claimed came through secondhand smoke. But Broncos officials have insisted since then that they have no character concerns about Anderson.

"It was made clear by the Broncos, if Mike wants to come back, he's always welcome," Canter said. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

In an article published last Saturday, Rasizer reported that team officials remain in wait-and-see mode with tight end Shannon Sharpe, who is contemplating retirement after 14 seasons.

Sharpe joked after the playoff loss at Indianapolis in January that Shanahan probably wanted a decision within a month, but that he'd "probably take two," while keeping the coach abreast of his plans so the team could plan accordingly for April's draft.

The team is giving Sharpe his space.

"With Shannon, the way Mike's done it is pretty much put it on his time frame, his timetable. And I think that's the best thing to do," Sundquist said. "Fortunately, we've been able to structure the cap and some different things that we're going to do without having to really rely on Shannon and what's going to happen to Shannon. And that doesn't force him into any kind of decision he would want to or not want to make."

Denver would like Sharpe back after the tight end finished with 62 catches for 770 yards and eight touchdowns, the latter number the fourth-highest total of his career. He carries only a modest $874,285 salary-cap figure for 2004.

And finally. ...

In an article published Feb. 16, Post beat man Patrick Saunders advised readers that Adrian Madise has a chance to be the third receiver in his second season.

According to Saunders, Madise is "fast and strong and gets good separation. His route running, however, is undisciplined, and he hasn't gained the confidence of Jake Plummer."

The final assessment?

"Madise needs a solid offseason to prove he knows the offense and can make catches going across the middle."