"It pays to be the Champ.

As Champ Bailey's once-record, seven-year contract with the Broncos enters its final months, the left cornerback on Tuesday collected one more $3 million roster bonus.

Running back Knowshon Moreno ($3.775 million), linebacker D.J. Williams ($3 million) and receiver Brandon Stokley ($500,000) were other Broncos players whose bonuses were exercised this week.

Bailey's contract has held up through the test of time. Even though NFL salaries have soared since the Broncos negotiated the deal for their star cornerback after his trade from Washington in exchange for running back Clinton Portis before the 2004 season, Bailey will collect $13 million in salary ($9.5 million) and bonuses ($3.5 million) this season to remain by far the Broncos' highest-paid player.

"Yes, it was a good contract, but I think it was a pretty good contract for the Broncos too, because of the way Champ performed," said Jack Reale, Bailey's agent. "How many players out there went to the Pro Bowl five out of the first six years of their contract?"

Not Portis. He has been to only one Pro Bowl since his financial demands caused former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Ted Sundquist to deal the running back to Washington in exchange for Bailey and a second-round draft pick that became running back Tatum Bell.

After that trade, Bailey received a new, seven-year, $63 million deal from the Broncos while Portis got an eight-year, $50.5 million extension from the Redskins.

Besides Bailey's five Pro Bowls in Denver, he also led the Broncos to their lone postseason success of the past 11 years.

In 2005, Bailey's pick six of San Diego's Drew Brees turned around the Broncos' regular season, and then his 100-yard interception return of New England's Tom Brady in a divisional playoff was the difference in Denver advancing to the AFC championship game.

Including playoffs, Bailey combined for 20 interceptions, a whopping 401 return yards and three touchdowns in the 2005 and 2006 seasons."