Duckett traded to 'Skins, Lelie to Falcons as part of 3-team deal

ATLANTA -- The Washington Redskins were desperate to acquire another running back. The Atlanta Falcons were eager to pick up another receiver. Both teams got their wish Tuesday with a deal involving two former first-round picks taken back-to-back in the 2002 draft.

The Falcons traded bruising runner T.J. Duckett to the Redskins and acquired holdout receiver Ashley Lelie from the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos received Washington's third-round pick in the 2007 draft as part of the deal, according to two officials within the league who spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been officially announced.

Washington had been shopping for a running back since star Clinton Portis partially dislocated his shoulder in the preseason opener against Cincinnati. The Redskins are unsure if he'll be ready for the start of the regular season.

The Falcons, meanwhile, were eager to land another receiver after losing Brian Finneran to a season-ending knee injury in the early days of training camp. Lelie was the NFL's leader in yards per catch in 2004, but he held out of training camp this year in hopes of forcing a trade.

Atlanta selected Duckett (above) with the 18th pick in the '02 draft. Lelie went 19th to the Broncs. (AP)

In an interesting twist, Duckett and Lelie were involved in the same deal after being taken with consecutive first-round picks four years ago.

The Falcons were criticized for passing over a much-needed receiver to select Duckett at No. 18, especially since Atlanta already had signed free-agent running back Warrick Dunn. Lelie went to Denver with the next choice.

His relationship with the Broncos soured after the team acquired receiver Javon Walker. Lelie refused to report for training camp and was being fined $14,000 a day; it was unclear if he would be required to pay the money before heading to the Falcons.

"It's a win-win situation for everybody," said Peter Schaffer, Lelie's agent.

With Dunn sidelined by a foot injury, Duckett started 10 games in 2003 and led the Falcons with a career-best 779 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns. But Dunn returned to start every game the last two seasons, rushing for more than 1,000 yards each year, and the 254-pound Duckett was relegated mostly to short-yardage situations.

Last season, he gained 380 yards and led Atlanta with eight touchdowns. But with Duckett heading into the final year of his contract, the Falcons used a third-round pick on Mississippi State speedster Jerious Norwood, who now moves up to become Dunn's primary backup.

Running back appeared to be one of Washington's deepest positions heading into training camp.

Portis rushed for a franchise record 1,516 yards in 2005 -- his third 1,500-yard season in four years -- and led the Redskins to their first playoff berth since 1999. Backup Ladell Betts is a versatile between-the-tackles back who ran for 338 yards in limited action.