Miami Mafia busted

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PHILADELPHIA -- Joe Gibbs loves players from the University of Miami.

One of his first moves upon returning to the Redskins in 2004 was trading franchise cornerback Champ Bailey for ex-Hurricanes running back Clinton Portis.

Seven weeks later, Gibbs chose Hurricanes safety Sean Taylor fifth overall in the draft.

The Redskins' renaissance began last season with the acquisition of former Hurricane Santana Moss from the Jets for disgruntled fellow receiver Laveranues Coles.

And bereft of a first-round pick this April, Gibbs traded up in the second round to take linebacker Rocky McIntosh from -- drum roll, please -- Miami.

"It's important where you play," Gibbs said at the press conference welcoming McIntosh to Washington. "We have outstanding players from down there. Football is a big deal at Miami. They play a tremendous schedule. If they can play at Miami and be a leader, then chances are [they are] going to be very successful up here, too."

That Hurricanes-heavy formula worked well last season.

Portis set a franchise record by rushing for 1,516 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Taylor played a role in six interceptions, forced fumbles or fumble recoveries. He finished third on the ninth-ranked defense with 80 tackles, sealed the team's first playoff berth in six years with a fumble return for a touchdown and repeated that play for the winning score in the postseason opener against the Buccaneers.

Moss was even better, stunning the Cowboys with two fourth-quarter touchdown bombs, starting in the Pro Bowl, catching 84 passes for 1,483 yards and scoring nine touchdowns.