Kaylore
11-02-2006, 02:53 AM
Wednesday Notebook: Bailey Set for AFC Honor
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- A streak of three consecutive games with an interception allowed Champ Bailey to become the first Bronco since Terrell Davis to earn multiple AFC Player of the Month awards.
The NFL informed the Broncos Wednesday that Bailey will be named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, earning the monthly honor just under a year after he snagged the same award for November of 2005.
Bailey was spectacular throughout the month, intercepting passes in three straight games (Week 5 versus Baltimore, Week 6 against Oakland and Week 7 at Cleveland) while notching 20 tackles -- including 13 solo stops -- and nine passes defensed.
Significantly, all of Bailey's interceptions came inside the Broncos 2-yard-line.
Davis earned four AFC Player of the Month awards in his Broncos career: September 1996, 1997 and 1998 and October 1998. Ring of Famer John Elway netted two, and no other player has won more than once in a Denver uniform.
Bailey was the sixth Bronco to earn AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors since the award was instituted in 1986. Defensive end Rulon Jones (October 1986), safety Dennis Smith (October 1989), linebacker Karl Mecklenburg (November 1989), linebacker Simon Fletcher (December 1991) and cornerback Deltha O'Neal (October 2001) are the others.
ON THE MEND: The fact that Kyle Johnson started and managed to play approximately one half of football Sunday was a necessary step forward for the veteran fullback, who missed the Week 7 game at Cleveland with a high ankle sprain.
"I don't know if it was at the level I would like it to be," Johnson said. "I got a little twisted up and felt a little weak, so we're trying to continue to strengthen it and tape it as best as you can."
Johnson practiced Wednesday as the Broncos returned to the field for the first time since Sunday's 34-31 loss to the Colts and is listed as probable, leaving his sights set on actually completing the full game Sunday, which would be his first since the Week 5 win over Baltimore.
"Once you make it through a game, you know you can (do it)," he said. "So that's really the goal."
But it's not just being able to play -- but play well -- that is just as much of a goal.
"You really want to be able to function, too," he said. "Just being out there is one thing. I can push 240 pounds off of my ankle, because I weight about 240. I've really got to be able to push a 240-pound guy off of my ankle, so I need to have about 480 pounds of strength. We're working toward it."
INJURY UPDATE: In addition to Johnson, Denver listed nine players on its injury report Wednesday: Bailey (ankle), Tatum Bell (toe), Cedric Cobbs (ankle), Ian Gold (hamstring), Chris Myers (shoulder), Tony Scheffler (hip), Gerard Warren (toe), D.J. Williams (foot) and Al Wilson (thumb). All practiced and are listed as probable.
Steelers cornerback DeShea Townsend was the only player listed as probable to miss practice Wednesday; he's battling a quadriceps injury. Defensive tackle Casey Hampton is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, but he practiced.
Pretty cool stuff. He's been great, as expected. Despite being a DB that seldom even gets looks, his stats are pretty good. Champ getting hurt last year did wonder to his stats when offensive coordinators thought he wasn't up to snuff.
By the way Taco, I tried to put this on the front page but I only have the columnist option right now. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if it's an access thing, but thought it was worth a look.
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- A streak of three consecutive games with an interception allowed Champ Bailey to become the first Bronco since Terrell Davis to earn multiple AFC Player of the Month awards.
The NFL informed the Broncos Wednesday that Bailey will be named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, earning the monthly honor just under a year after he snagged the same award for November of 2005.
Bailey was spectacular throughout the month, intercepting passes in three straight games (Week 5 versus Baltimore, Week 6 against Oakland and Week 7 at Cleveland) while notching 20 tackles -- including 13 solo stops -- and nine passes defensed.
Significantly, all of Bailey's interceptions came inside the Broncos 2-yard-line.
Davis earned four AFC Player of the Month awards in his Broncos career: September 1996, 1997 and 1998 and October 1998. Ring of Famer John Elway netted two, and no other player has won more than once in a Denver uniform.
Bailey was the sixth Bronco to earn AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors since the award was instituted in 1986. Defensive end Rulon Jones (October 1986), safety Dennis Smith (October 1989), linebacker Karl Mecklenburg (November 1989), linebacker Simon Fletcher (December 1991) and cornerback Deltha O'Neal (October 2001) are the others.
ON THE MEND: The fact that Kyle Johnson started and managed to play approximately one half of football Sunday was a necessary step forward for the veteran fullback, who missed the Week 7 game at Cleveland with a high ankle sprain.
"I don't know if it was at the level I would like it to be," Johnson said. "I got a little twisted up and felt a little weak, so we're trying to continue to strengthen it and tape it as best as you can."
Johnson practiced Wednesday as the Broncos returned to the field for the first time since Sunday's 34-31 loss to the Colts and is listed as probable, leaving his sights set on actually completing the full game Sunday, which would be his first since the Week 5 win over Baltimore.
"Once you make it through a game, you know you can (do it)," he said. "So that's really the goal."
But it's not just being able to play -- but play well -- that is just as much of a goal.
"You really want to be able to function, too," he said. "Just being out there is one thing. I can push 240 pounds off of my ankle, because I weight about 240. I've really got to be able to push a 240-pound guy off of my ankle, so I need to have about 480 pounds of strength. We're working toward it."
INJURY UPDATE: In addition to Johnson, Denver listed nine players on its injury report Wednesday: Bailey (ankle), Tatum Bell (toe), Cedric Cobbs (ankle), Ian Gold (hamstring), Chris Myers (shoulder), Tony Scheffler (hip), Gerard Warren (toe), D.J. Williams (foot) and Al Wilson (thumb). All practiced and are listed as probable.
Steelers cornerback DeShea Townsend was the only player listed as probable to miss practice Wednesday; he's battling a quadriceps injury. Defensive tackle Casey Hampton is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, but he practiced.
Pretty cool stuff. He's been great, as expected. Despite being a DB that seldom even gets looks, his stats are pretty good. Champ getting hurt last year did wonder to his stats when offensive coordinators thought he wasn't up to snuff.
By the way Taco, I tried to put this on the front page but I only have the columnist option right now. I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if it's an access thing, but thought it was worth a look.