When the rout was over, Portis paraded around Invesco Field with a replica of a heavyweight championship belt designed especially for him by a local hip-hop artist.

“That was a time when Priest and LaDanian (Tomlinson of San Diego) and myself were all pretty hot,” Portis recalled. “We had some of the best backs in the league in our division that year, and I outrushed them every game that season. I felt like I was the champion that year.”

The Chiefs say they would have forgotten about Portis and his belt if reporters hadn’t brought it up again and again Wednesday.

“That stuff’s in the past,” insisted safety Greg Wesley. “We can’t think about what he did at Denver. He’s with Washington now, and we’ve got to focus on stopping him. They’re going to try to pound the ball on us, and we’ve got to be physical and hit him in the mouth!”

Added defensive end Eric Hicks: “I’ve honestly forgotten all about it. He’s probably wasting his time talking about it. But that was his right to do it. He was the (division) rushing champ that year.”

Portis, however, thinks the Chiefs may be less than candid.

“The belt’s retired, but they never got the opportunity to pay me back for that,” he said in a conference call with Kansas City-area reporters. “I’m sure they’re going to have some (issues) with me this week. I’ve got to come in with my hard hat on.”