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By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- T.J. Duckett crashed the Washington Commanders running back party Wednesday, arriving as part of a three-team trade that surprised his new teammates and raised plenty of questions.
Is there more to Clinton Portis' injury than the Commanders are letting on? Have they given up on Ladell Betts? Is Betts on the trading block? Is Rock Cartwright still paying the price for a costly fumble last year?
"I don't understand it," said Betts, who had seemed to be secure as the No. 2 back behind Portis. "But it's a business, and it is what it is."
Duckett took his physical Wednesday morning, but coach Joe Gibbs was waiting for the trade to become official before announcing it or commenting on it. Duckett, who led Atlanta with eight rushing touchdowns last year on only 380 yards, was acquired from the Falcons in a deal that sent receiver Ashley Lelie from Denver to Atlanta and a draft pick from the Commanders to the Broncos.
Washington will give Denver the equivalent value of a 2007 third-round selection, based on a points system used by NFL teams. The arrangement opens the door for multiple alternatives involving the teams' picks - they could swap picks in the first round, for example - but the exact compensation won't be determined until next offseason.
The unloading of another draft pick reinforces the Commanders' win-now mission in the third year of Gibbs' comeback from retirement..
Still, running back was near the bottom of any Commanders prospective shopping list when training camp opened 3 1/2 weeks ago. Portis ran for 1,516 yards last year, Betts was considered a back who could start for many other teams, and the compact Cartwright could be expected to pound a carry or two in short yardage.
But Portis partially dislocated his shoulder making a tackle following an interception in the preseason opener against Cincinnati. He might not be ready for the Sept. 11 regular season opener against Minnesota.
Betts, meanwhile, missed the Cincinnati game and several days of practice with a nagging hamstring injury. It's nothing major, but it adds questions about his durability. Betts broke his arm in 2003 and missed seven games, and he sat out four last year with a sprained knee.
Betts has been the subject of trade rumors, so Duckett's arrival could portend his departure.
Then there's Cartwright, who expected to get carries as a short-yardage back this season, the very role in which Duckett excels. Cartwright, whose solid season last year was marred by a costly fumble against Kansas City, said he was shocked by the trade.
"It's kind of like a slap in the face, but it's a business," Cartwright said. "They had to do a business deal, and that's the way they wanted to go."
Portis was more diplomatic, although he rebuffed a suggestion that Duckett's bruising style would complement Portis' more flashy runs.
"I'm a bruiser, too," Portis said. "Having a bigger back come in for myself, Ladell and Rock means more competition for all of us. We are going to have to step our level of play up, and it is going to be the toughest guy on the field."
AP Sports Writer
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- T.J. Duckett crashed the Washington Commanders running back party Wednesday, arriving as part of a three-team trade that surprised his new teammates and raised plenty of questions.
Is there more to Clinton Portis' injury than the Commanders are letting on? Have they given up on Ladell Betts? Is Betts on the trading block? Is Rock Cartwright still paying the price for a costly fumble last year?
"I don't understand it," said Betts, who had seemed to be secure as the No. 2 back behind Portis. "But it's a business, and it is what it is."
Duckett took his physical Wednesday morning, but coach Joe Gibbs was waiting for the trade to become official before announcing it or commenting on it. Duckett, who led Atlanta with eight rushing touchdowns last year on only 380 yards, was acquired from the Falcons in a deal that sent receiver Ashley Lelie from Denver to Atlanta and a draft pick from the Commanders to the Broncos.
Washington will give Denver the equivalent value of a 2007 third-round selection, based on a points system used by NFL teams. The arrangement opens the door for multiple alternatives involving the teams' picks - they could swap picks in the first round, for example - but the exact compensation won't be determined until next offseason.
The unloading of another draft pick reinforces the Commanders' win-now mission in the third year of Gibbs' comeback from retirement..
Still, running back was near the bottom of any Commanders prospective shopping list when training camp opened 3 1/2 weeks ago. Portis ran for 1,516 yards last year, Betts was considered a back who could start for many other teams, and the compact Cartwright could be expected to pound a carry or two in short yardage.
But Portis partially dislocated his shoulder making a tackle following an interception in the preseason opener against Cincinnati. He might not be ready for the Sept. 11 regular season opener against Minnesota.
Betts, meanwhile, missed the Cincinnati game and several days of practice with a nagging hamstring injury. It's nothing major, but it adds questions about his durability. Betts broke his arm in 2003 and missed seven games, and he sat out four last year with a sprained knee.
Betts has been the subject of trade rumors, so Duckett's arrival could portend his departure.
Then there's Cartwright, who expected to get carries as a short-yardage back this season, the very role in which Duckett excels. Cartwright, whose solid season last year was marred by a costly fumble against Kansas City, said he was shocked by the trade.
"It's kind of like a slap in the face, but it's a business," Cartwright said. "They had to do a business deal, and that's the way they wanted to go."
Portis was more diplomatic, although he rebuffed a suggestion that Duckett's bruising style would complement Portis' more flashy runs.
"I'm a bruiser, too," Portis said. "Having a bigger back come in for myself, Ladell and Rock means more competition for all of us. We are going to have to step our level of play up, and it is going to be the toughest guy on the field."
