Champ Bailey News: Pro Sports Daily

Champ Bailey still on top of Broncos' salary pile

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March 13

Denver Post

"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) ..."

Dawkins, Bailey are all-decade

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January 28

Denver Post

"Two current Broncos have been named to the NFL's all-decade team for the 2000s. Cornerback Champ Bailey and safety Brian Dawkins are among the 15 players already named to the all-decade team, which is selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. The NFL has released only the portion of the team that includes active Pro Bowl players. The remainder of the all-decade team, including non-Pro Bowlers and retired players, will be announced during the telecast of the Pro Bowl on Sunday. Bailey has spent the past six of his 11 NFL seasons in Denver after starting his career with Washington. He made the Pro Bowl in nine of the 10 years in the decade, missing out only in 2008 ..."

Broncos' Bailey eager for better years

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January 5

Longmont Times-Call

"After six seasons in Denver, including five in which he was named to the Pro Bowl, cornerback Champ Bailey would love to return for a seventh year. "Oh yeah," he said. Whether or not he does return, well, not even he knows. "Nothing's definite," he said. "All I know is when it's time for me to work, I go work and I work hard. I do whatever I can to improve myself every yea,r and that's what I'm going to do this offseason, whether it's here or not." Bailey is under contract for next season, but his $9.5 million price tag could be too steep. On Monday, head coach Josh McDaniels said he expects Bailey back. "He's been a Bronco for awhile, and I'd love to have him be a Bronco as long as I'm ..."

Champ reflects on deal that seems long ago

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November 14

Denver Post

"For many players, five seasons is an NFL lifetime. For Champ Bailey, he has now surpassed that in his second NFL life, here in Denver. On Sunday, when the Broncos play at the Washington Redskins, Bailey will revisit his former life for the first time since the megatrade 5 1/2 years ago that ended with Bailey (and a second-round draft pick) here and star running back Clinton Portis in Washington. "It seems like a long time ago, honestly," Bailey said this week. "I've spent more time here than I spent there." Bailey was 25 years old when he became a Bronco on March 4, 2004, and he has been in Denver long enough, and seen so much change at Dove Valley, that now, at age 31, he is the ..."

Bailey back in town with Broncos

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November 12

Washington Times

"Perhaps the best player the Washington Redskins have employed in the past seven seasons will start Sunday at FedEx Field. For the visitors. Champ Bailey returns to town with the Denver Broncos. "It will be a little different coming out of the visitors' locker room and going onto that field," Bailey said. "I had a lot of special moments there." Bailey, whose eight Pro Bowl berths are tied for second among cornerbacks, helped Washington win its only NFC East title of the past 17 years as a rookie in 1999. The next year, he began his run of postseason trips to Hawaii. But when talks on a new contract broke off during the 2003 season, Bailey was on his way to being traded with a second-round ..."

Champ Bailey has utmost respect for Randy Moss, Tom Brady

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October 8

Boston Herald

"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 ..."

Broncos' Bailey welcomes attention of early season success

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October 7

Denver Post

"It is often difficult for Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey to practice patience on game day. He often runs one sprint after another, following receivers who don't see the ball because an eight-time Pro Bowl selection is next to them. But Bailey is hoping, after Sunday's victory over Dallas, that things may change. "I would love that, really look forward to it," Bailey said. "Things could be different." Sunday, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo challenged Bailey in 1-on-1 coverage more than any quarterback Bailey recalls during his time with the Broncos. Romo even threw Bailey's way on back-to-back plays to close out the game. Bailey knocked away the passes, both intended for Sam Hurd, as the ..."

Cowboys' QB Romo miscalculates regarding Broncos' Champ Bailey

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October 5

Denver Post

"Sometimes, it can get boring being Champ Bailey. Because he had 43 interceptions heading into Sunday's game and a knack for making open-field tackles, opposing quarterbacks usually look the other way. Not Tony Romo. Maybe Romo thought Bailey, now 31, was a step slower than he used to be, or he thought Bailey couldn't catch like he used to, because Bailey had not picked off a pass since the second game of last season. Give Romo credit for his confidence, but in this case, Romo was wrong. On the final two plays of Sunday's game, on third and fourth down from Denver's 2-yard line, Romo fired passes intended for receiver Sam Hurd. Both times, Bailey was there to swat the ball to the ground. ..."

Bailey stays silent about injury status

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August 1

Denver Post

"See Champ run - at least some early-morning sprints anyway. See Champ walk - to the weight room. But folks who attended Broncos' training camp Friday did not see the eight-time Pro Bowl selection practice with the team. Bailey begins the team's preseason work on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, along with safety Renaldo Hill and defensive tackle Marcus Thomas. The list is a designation for players who cannot participate at the start of a team's training camp. Bailey had offseason elbow surgery and had suffered a torn groin muscle that kept him out of seven games last season, but Broncos coach Josh McDaniels refused to say whether Bailey was being held out of practice because of ..."

Super Bowl would cap off Bailey's career

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July 26

Denver Post

"Champ Bailey is going on decade No. 2 in the NFL. In Bailey's first 10 seasons, 15 different teams have played in the Super Bowl. None of whom have been any of Bailey's teams. "The older I get, the more it bothers me," Bailey said. After five seasons with the Redskins and now in his sixth season with the Broncos, Bailey has become recognized as one of the league's top defensive backs despite his absence from the league's greatest stage. Bailey had a streak of eight consecutive Pro Bowl seasons snapped last year because of a groin injury suffered in Game 7 against Josh McDaniels' Patriots. Does coming off his injury-plagued, non-Pro Bowl season heighten Bailey's anticipation for 2009?"

Denver Broncos Champ Bailey offers thoughts on Jay Cutler

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July 7

Chicago Tribune

"Marc Silverman and Jeff Dickerson from ESPN 1000 radio Chicago interviewed Denver Broncos defensive back Champ Bailey on the Waddle & Silvy show Monday. Bailey was asked where he thought new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler ranked among the top quarterbacks in the league. ``Well he's definitely in the top 10 as far as what he's done to this point,'' Bailey said. ``Now where he can be, he can be the best in the game, he has that ability. The guys very smart, very sharp, a good arm; he has all the stuff you'd want. He reminds me of a Marino, Elway type of guy, and he's going to be a great winner for them. It's unfortunate for us that we had to lose a guy like that, but we've got to move on, ..."

Champ eyes changes on defense

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March 24

Denver Post

"There's a new, 3-inch scar on Champ Bailey's left elbow. Consider it just another reminder, albeit a tangible one, of the painful 2008 season. Bailey underwent surgery Jan. 8 to repair the elbow - injured in the season finale against San Diego - and said late last week he is about a month away from being fully recovered. He only hopes the defense can be so easily repaired. "We've got to know what we're good at and what we're best at," Bailey said. "That's been a distant thing around here the last two or three years." Bailey, who turns 31 in June, is coming off the worst statistical season of his career after missing seven games with a torn groin. Bailey said he likes at least some of the ..."

Bailey led team amid pain

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December 22

Denver Post

"Champ Bailey walked slowly through the Broncos' nearly silent locker room after Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Buffalo Bills, his sore right groin muscle wrapped in layers of protective bandages. He shook his head frequently, spoke softly and admitted he wasn't yet feeling 100 percent, yet his ability to speak as a participant and not as an injured observer provided a little good news for a team reeling from back- to-back losses. "To have our best player back, it was exciting to the team," right cornerback Dre Bly said. With only one chance left to clinch the AFC West and earn a spot in the playoffs, the Broncos can find solace in knowing their best defensive player will be around when they ..."

Bailey 'better,' wants to play

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December 19

Rocky Mountain News

"Barring a late setback, Champ Bailey finally might be ready to return to the Broncos lineup after a seven-game absence because of a severe groin injury. The eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback still is listed as a limited participant in practice. But Bailey said Thursday he was able to do more at practice the past few days than he had done the past several weeks and was planning on increasing his workload further today. "I feel better than I did last week, so there's a very good chance I'll be out there as long as everything goes smoothly this week and I keep improving," he said. Bailey was hurt in the Oct. 20 game at New England while backpedaling in zone coverage. He's explained previously ..."

Bailey vows to return this week vs. Chiefs

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December 2

Rocky Mountain News

"Just for the record, the answers are yes, yes and yes. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey missed his fifth consecutive game Sunday because of the groin injury he suffered in October in New England. But Monday he said, yes, he's feeling better. Yes, it's driving him crazy to stand on the sideline. And, yes, he will play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High (2:05 p.m., CBS 4). At least if it's up to him, that is. "I definitely want to be out there when we clinch this division. I'll be out there this week one way or the other," Bailey said Monday. "I'm saying I'm going. Unless something else happens, I'll be out there." Bailey has practiced on a limited basis the ..."

Champ Bailey inactive vs. Falcons

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November 16

Denver Post

"Despite practicing on Thursday and Friday, Denver cornerback Champ Bailey will not play today against the Falcons. Bailey has not played since tearing his groin Oct. 20 at New England. He was hoping to be able to return in time to play in Atlanta. He grew up in Folkston, Ga., attended the University of Georgia and has family in the Atlanta area. Running back Selvin Young also is inactive, also with a groin injury. The Broncos' other inactive players are safety Marlon McCree (ankle), linebackers D.J. Williams (knee) and Nate Webster (knee), running back Alex Haynes, defensive tackle Nic Clemons and defensive end Tim Crowder."

Mailbag: Broncos have valued chip in Champ

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October 28

Denver Post

"Champ Bailey is the best all-around cornerback in the league. He can shut down 1/3 of the field, and provides a sure tackler for run support. Since the Broncos are so weak at strong and free Safety, why not move him to one of these? From there you can move around the field a lot more and disguise the coverages and easily dictate to the offense where the ball is going to be thrown. And if it doesn't work, well it's not like the defense is going to get worse. Champ study up on it while he is injured. --Dave, Anchorage, Alaska

Dave, my first reaction to your idea was to torch it. You would no more move Bailey, the NFL's best all-around cornerback (TV analysts who are trumpeting Asante ..."

Champ Bailey Out 4-6 Weeks With Groin Tear

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October 22

cbs4denver.com

"CBS4 Sports has learned that Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey has a torn groin and will be out 4 to 6 weeks. Bailey tore the groin in the 2nd Quarter of Monday night's game with New England. Champ's brother Boss injured his knee in the game. He will require micro-fracture surgery and has been placed on injured reserve, meaning his season is over."

Broncos lose Boss Bailey, Ramsey for season; Champ out 4-6 weeks

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October 22

Denver Post

"There was the Nightmare in New England on national cable television. And there was the injury carnage the day after. Call it Terrible Tuesday at Dove Valley. According to three NFL sources, the Broncos learned Tuesday that strongside linebacker Boss Bailey and backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey will be lost for the season. Bailey needs microfracture surgery to repair the knee damage he has received throughout his playing career, and again Monday night during the Broncos' humiliating 41-7 loss to the New England Patriots. Ramsey reinjured the right throwing elbow that had been bothering him since the third preseason game. Meanwhile, star cornerback Champ Bailey will be out four to six weeks ..."

Champ calls out his teammates

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October 21

Denver Post

"As he stood on the visitors' sideline Monday night, shrouded by an oversized blue and orange parka, everything became clear to Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. Denver's defensive troubles that had previously been dismissed by coaches and players as minor, fixable lapses were revealed to be major flaws in New England's 41-7 victory Monday night at Gillette Stadium. "You make a mistake trying to find one thing," Bailey said. "It's a lot of things, and we know that. We have to get better in every area of the game." Bailey left the game in the second quarter with an injury to his right groin and grew increasingly irritated as the game wore on without him. Bailey, normally as mild-mannered off ..."

In quest for success, foes cut corner Bailey

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October 14

Rocky Mountain News

"The Broncos continue to wrestle with what has ailed them defensively in their first six games, and at least one of the items on the list is dealing with what opposing offenses are doing to cornerback Champ Bailey. They are ignoring him. "(It's) very smart not to throw at Champ," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. Well, then the Buccaneers and the Jaguars have been extremely intelligent the past two weeks because a review of the video shows not a single pass was directed at Bailey in coverage in either game. "Not one," Bailey said. "In two games." For the season, Bailey has had only about 10 passes - he put the count at nine - thrown directly at him, and most of those came in a Week 2 ..."

Bailey knocks Griese out on double cornerback blitz

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October 7

Denver Post

"Broncos reporter Mike Klis analyzes a key play from the team's 16-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Bucs on Sunday: The play: The score was 6-6 midway through the third quarter. Tampa Bay, backed up to its 10-yard line, faced a second-and-11. The Broncos were in their 3-4 package. As Griese dropped back, Broncos cornerback Dre Bly blitzed from the right but was picked up. Champ Bailey came from left cornerback untouched. The Broncos dropped defensive tackle Kenny Peterson and linebacker Boss Bailey, who was showing blitz, back into short pass protection. Only defensive tackles Marcus Thomas and Nic Clemons joined Bly and Bailey on the pass rush. Bailey hit Griese at the goal line just as the ..."

Bailey's hit more valuable than sack for Broncos

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October 6

Rocky Mountain News

"It doesn't count for anything, Champ Bailey lamented. The cornerback's blitz in which he leveled Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese in the third quarter Sunday, necessitating a move to Buccaneers backup Jeff Garcia, wasn't a sack because Griese's arm was in motion when the hit occurred. "I don't even know how you'd put that down on the stat sheet," Bailey said. It's an incomplete pass, technically. But there's an asterisk, too. As tone-setters go, this was the moment the Broncos defense has been searching for since Nate Webster's fumble return for a score in the first half of the New Orleans game Sept. 21. It demonstrated the Broncos defense could apply pressure and that its 3-4 scheme, ..."

Bailey brothers quickly make impact on game

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September 15

Denver Post

"Playing in their first professional game together, Champ Bailey and Boss Bailey accounted for 12 tackles against San Diego in the Broncos' 39-38 win Sunday, 30 percent of the team's 40 tackles. Boss tackled San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson on Denver's first defensive play, and Champ intercepted Philip Rivers on the second. Boss Bailey made his first regular-season start for Denver after missing most of the preseason and the season opener at Oakland with a high ankle sprain. Champ Bailey did not play in the first preseason game, when his younger brother started. Hall perseveres. Those were seven difficult carries for Broncos running back Andre Hall. While Hall was busy rushing for ..."

Bailey, Robertson to sit at Houston

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August 9

Denver Post

"After the Broncos' brief walkthrough this morning, coach Mike Shanahan said cornerback Champ Bailey and defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson will be held out of the opening preseason game Saturday night at Houston against the Texans. Bailey didn't practice most of the week because of a hamstring problem. Robertson, acquired in the offseason from the New York Jets, has battled a chronic knee problem the past few seasons. "We've been going two-a-day practices, he's getting his condition level, and I think it would be a mistake to play him at this time," Shanahan said of Robertson, who was listed as the starter at left tackle on the Broncos' first depth chart, issued on Monday. "He's making ..."

No practice, no problem for Bailey

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August 6

Denver Post

"Champ Bailey has missed back-to-back practices with a sore right hamstring. So that's it. His season is over before it started. I mean, how could Bailey possibly overcome such a devastating turn of events? Right. Of all the 80 players in camp, Bailey may be at the top of the list among those who don't need to be here to get ready for the season. He has played nine NFL seasons, long enough to be considered a sure-fire Hall of Famer. In those nine seasons, he has missed three games. How much does Bailey need the preseason? "I've never been shy to say I don't like the preseason," he said. "But that's not why I'm not practicing. As long as I'm healthy, I'm out there." But if his legs are sore, ..."

Hamstring injury keeps Champ out of practice

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August 5

Rocky Mountain News

"Starting cornerback Champ Bailey missed Tuesday morning's practice because of a hamstring injury. "It's like all hamstrings; we've got to give it a little time to rest," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said after the morning session. "Champ recovers pretty quickly. It wasn't a bad hamstring (injury) so that's good news." The news for longtime center Tom Nalen isn't as promising. Nalen still is unable to practice because of soreness in his left knee - the same knee that required surgery in the offseason. "Any time Tom stays out of practice it's not just another injury," Shanahan said. "It's hard to keep him out of practice, so obviously it's sore -- but it's feeling better according to (trainer ..."

Georgia on their minds

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July 20

Denver Post

"There wasn't much room for it, and there were the usual signs of neglect. No net. A rusted backboard. Bent rim. Nevertheless, the transportable basketball hoop had become a magnet for neighborhood activities. It was around suppertime, between downpours on a midsummer day, and the air was sweating. Moving within a 10-foot radius of the ironed circle were five boys, all shirtless, not an ounce of fat anywhere. There were smiles during horseplay, although there were hints the game was but a few minutes shy of serious. Girls were approaching from both sides of the road, oblivious to the boys, intent on conversation. The nearby yards were covered with green grass, toys and bikes, ..."

Older brother should bring out best in Boss

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July 20

Denver Post

"If father knows best, the Broncos will be pleased. Roland Bailey Sr. thinks it's best for all concerned that Boss Bailey will be playing alongside his older brother Champ, formally if not formerly known as Roland Bailey Jr., on the Broncos' defense. "I think Boss will play better, play harder," Roland Sr. said about his youngest son. "He won't want to let Champ down." Boss Bailey agrees with his father about the positive influence he will draw by often lining up just a few feet away from his older brother on the left side of the Broncos' defense. Champ plays left cornerback, and Boss, as a strongside linebacker, will often line up off the tight end on the left side."