CANTON, Ohio — The evening of Dec. 7, 2003, might have been the final straw. That Sunday was when former Broncos running back Clinton Portis rushed for 218 yards and five touchdowns, then reached for the black-and-gold championship belt he stashed on the bench, strapped it on and yelled to tight end Shannon Sharpe: “Hey, Sharpe! I’m the heavyweight champion of the world.”



For that moment, what Portis believed was true. He bested Kansas City’s star back Priest Holmes and showed the world that, yes, he was No. 1.



What he showed Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, however, apparently was something much different. Portis’ flamboyance wasn’t exactly Shanahan’s style, and the Broncos’ football boss was always looking a step ahead. Always pondering the possibilities. His rumination then centered on his marquee player, who was in the prime of his career with the value to match.



As detailed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter...