"Who needs a film room to diagnose the Patriots offense when you have Champ Bailey to give you the lowdown?

Think Tom Brady isn't all the way back from his knee surgery? The Broncos Pro Bowl corner says the quarterback is closing in on 100 percent.

Think Randy Moss lollygags? Bailey says you're crazy.

Bailey, one of the best corners ever to play the game, provided many interesting insights and observations during his session with the local media yesterday. None was more fascinating than what he had to say about Moss, who he has been battling the past decade and beyond.

The 31-year-old defender is looking forward to another knockdown, drag-out affair Sunday with No. 81, who did not practice yesterday for reasons said to be unrelated to injury.

"I've always said since I played him for the first time, he's one of the best I've ever seen, even to this day," Bailey said of the 32-year-old Moss. "He's in his 12th season, but that guy, he plays like he's 25 years old again. He's so dangerous.

"He has that deceptive speed. You know he's fast, but then he doesn't run fast, and then all of a sudden he's top speed. He's just a dangerous guy. I look forward to that matchup because if you can come out playing well against him, you know you're doing good things."

Bailey doesn't agree with those who criticize Moss for dogging it on plays.

"He never lollygags. See, that's the thing, people really don't understand the game," Bailey said. "I mean, he blocks, he does all those little things. I wouldn't say he's the greatest blocker, but he does it effectively. When he's jogging, he's just really setting you up for the next time he jogs, and then he takes off running past you. He's one of those guys, he loves to find ways to set you up."

It's tough to argue with someone who has gone to eight Pro Bowls and is highly regarded by his peers. Roland "Champ" Bailey just might know what he's talking about.

In the Pats' 41-7 blowout of the Broncos last season in Foxboro, the Bailey-Moss showdown never really materialized.

Moss caught five passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns, but Bailey wasn't the one getting beaten on the outside. He was forced out of the game early because of a pulled groin.

This year, Bailey is back and healthy, and he's ready to tackle Moss and the Brady-led Pats offense. He's watched the first four Pats games with interest, especially in Brady. As a cornerback, he's looking to see if Brady is throwing off his back foot or if the knee is impacting his tosses.

"He makes that offense go. Whether he's handing it off or throwing it, he's the key to that offense because he controls everything," Bailey said. "You can see how poised he is. It seems like every week he gets more and more comfortable coming off that injury. . . . I hope we can find a way to rattle him this week because he's looking better and better every week."

Bailey will take whatever he can from Broncos coach Josh McDaniels on how to beat Brady and Moss. After all, McDaniels has local knowledge. Bailey also will study those who have kept the Pats in check.

"I'm really trying to feel out what (the Jets) did to rattle them and to get to Brady, and to not have them score a touchdown, which is a rare thing," Bailey said. "Obviously they did some good things, so hopefully we can take something from that.""