HEAV
02-07-2008, 08:35 AM
By Bill Williamson
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 02/06/2008 11:14:53 PM MST
HONOLULU — Champ Bailey believes Bob Slowik is the right man to run the Broncos' defense.
In fact, Bailey has believed that for a year.
"To tell the truth, I think this is a year too late," Bailey said Wednesday at the Pro Bowl. "Nothing against (Jim) Bates, but Slowik is the right fit for this defense."
Slowik has been the Broncos' secondary coach since 2005. He was promoted to defensive coordinator early in 2007 but Bates, who was hired in January 2007, was in charge of the defense. When Bates and the team mutually parted ways last month, Slowik was promptly promoted. He has been a defensive coordinator with Green Bay, Chicago and Cleveland.
Bailey said Slowik's familiarity with the players is going to help.
"He's been here for a while, and he knows how it all works," Bailey said. "I think there will be more consistency. I think Bates was a good coach, but we didn't have the personnel for what he ran. It just didn't work. We were all over the place. He'd have starters get cut. It was no consistency there."
Bailey said he hopes the Broncos spend their free-agency money and draft choices on defensive players. He said the team needs help at defensive tackle and perhaps linebacker.
"We need a few more players," Bailey said. "Hopefully, we get that help."
Of prime concern is linemen who can pressure the quarterback, he said.
"The Giants won the Super Bowl with a pass rush," Bailey said. "That's how you win. . . . Hopefully, we can do something like that."
Commish on Henry.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he doesn't believe there will be a fallout from Broncos running back Travis Henry's victory over the league in his drug testing case.
In his first public comments on the case, Goodell said the substance-abuse program and drug-testing policies work, and he is not concerned other players who test positive for marijuana will be able to avoid suspensions.
He said the Henry case was isolated, and if he has one regret it is that the NFL did not communicate one aspect of the process to Henry. Goodell wouldn't elaborate.
"There was a failure there," Goodell said. "Players have rights and we have responsibilities. . . . But overall, I believe in our system and our program."
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 02/06/2008 11:14:53 PM MST
HONOLULU — Champ Bailey believes Bob Slowik is the right man to run the Broncos' defense.
In fact, Bailey has believed that for a year.
"To tell the truth, I think this is a year too late," Bailey said Wednesday at the Pro Bowl. "Nothing against (Jim) Bates, but Slowik is the right fit for this defense."
Slowik has been the Broncos' secondary coach since 2005. He was promoted to defensive coordinator early in 2007 but Bates, who was hired in January 2007, was in charge of the defense. When Bates and the team mutually parted ways last month, Slowik was promptly promoted. He has been a defensive coordinator with Green Bay, Chicago and Cleveland.
Bailey said Slowik's familiarity with the players is going to help.
"He's been here for a while, and he knows how it all works," Bailey said. "I think there will be more consistency. I think Bates was a good coach, but we didn't have the personnel for what he ran. It just didn't work. We were all over the place. He'd have starters get cut. It was no consistency there."
Bailey said he hopes the Broncos spend their free-agency money and draft choices on defensive players. He said the team needs help at defensive tackle and perhaps linebacker.
"We need a few more players," Bailey said. "Hopefully, we get that help."
Of prime concern is linemen who can pressure the quarterback, he said.
"The Giants won the Super Bowl with a pass rush," Bailey said. "That's how you win. . . . Hopefully, we can do something like that."
Commish on Henry.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he doesn't believe there will be a fallout from Broncos running back Travis Henry's victory over the league in his drug testing case.
In his first public comments on the case, Goodell said the substance-abuse program and drug-testing policies work, and he is not concerned other players who test positive for marijuana will be able to avoid suspensions.
He said the Henry case was isolated, and if he has one regret it is that the NFL did not communicate one aspect of the process to Henry. Goodell wouldn't elaborate.
"There was a failure there," Goodell said. "Players have rights and we have responsibilities. . . . But overall, I believe in our system and our program."