There's not much more frustrating than having a lockdown cornerback on one side of the field only to see opposing quarterbacks pick apart the No. 2.
The Denver Broncos lived that life with Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman, who was run out of a disgusting Detroit Lions secondary in the early 2000s.
Denver hopes it solved that problem with Tracy Porter, who signed a one-year, $4 million free-agent deal during the offseason.
"Obviously we liked him," coach John Foxtold The Denver Post. "Our personnel department did a great job evaluating him."
Porter had eight tackles, five pass breakups and a 43-yard interception returned for a touchdown in his debut. He's just 26 years old and started four seasons for the New Orleans Saints. Porter always seemed to be around the ball in New Orleans and never seemed to lack confidence. He had seven interceptions in his first four seasons, including four during the Saints' Super Bowl run in 2009.
"Both guys have been around and made a lot of plays," safety Jim Leonhard said, according to The Associated Press. "And I think for a lot of years, it was Champ and a couple young corners to where obviously they're not going to test Champ. The defense where it is now, Tracy's been around a long time. He's made plays, he's been to Super Bowls, he's been in the playoffs, that experience, it means a lot to a corner. And I don't think you're just going to be able to say, 'We're going to avoid Champ,' and go to the other side all day like maybe in certain years you were able to do that."
The Broncos have star power in pass rushers Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil, and Bailey is a future Hall of Famer. Porter should have plenty of opportunities to be the playmaker he's shown in the past.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
