Champ - a pro's pro (article)

[baja]

Bailey quick to show why he's "pro's pro"
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer


http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_4193267



Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, returning an interception Wednesday at training camp, is known for making big plays. He had eight interceptions in 2005, and has 29 in seven NFL seasons. (Post / Andy Cross)

Long before he taught Broncos rookie quarterback Jay Cutler a lesson about the dangers of indecision Wednesday, Champ Bailey already had caught the attention of veteran John Lynch.

There was no good reason for Lynch to observe the slender cornerback. Lynch had just completed his eighth year at safety for Tampa Bay when he happened upon Bailey, then in his second season as a Washington Redskins cornerback, at the 2000 Pro Bowl.

There was nothing in the island breezes indicating Lynch and Bailey would change conferences, much less wind up playing on the same team three years later.

"Back in those days, a lot of stars, particularly at his position, had the Deion attitude," Lynch said, referring to heavy showboating/no-contact play of Deion Sanders. "Then I see Champ get in there at the Pro Bowl and he's tackling fullbacks. He is a complete player. I remember coming away from there saying, 'He's a pro's pro."'

To most fans, it is Bailey's ability not only to pick off a pass but return it for a touchdown that makes him special. He did it against San Diego's Drew Brees in the second game last season. He did it again on Thanksgiving against Dallas' Drew Bledsoe. He came within a pylon of making it three against New England's Tom Brady during an AFC playoff game.

And he did it Wednesday during the morning workout against Cutler. The Broncos' phenom passer was coming off a splendid NFL preseason debut until he got his Champ Check. Cutler was aiming for Todd Devoe, who was running a simple sideline pattern.

Bailey stepped in front of the tardy pass, caught it and returned it roughly half the field for a touchdown.

Having earned the right to talk smack, Bailey said it was his job as a defender to make a rookie quarterback look bad, to put him in his place. But Bailey is Cutler's teammate, too, and after drawing hearty applause from the Dove Valley training camp crowd, he followed up with some advice.

"I told him he hesitated and that you can't do that and that all of the good ones will get it," Bailey said.

Given what Bailey did in 2005, the Broncos would be asking a lot if they asked for more of the same. The schedule this season will feature such marquee matchups as Bailey against Oakland's Randy Moss, Bailey against Cincinnati's Chad Johnson, Bailey against Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald. First things




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first, though. And first is the St. Louis Rams, on the carpet, at the Edward Jones Dome on Sept. 10.
"I'm looking forward to Torry Holt, who is one of the best receivers in the game, and Isaac Bruce and (quarterback) Marc Bulger," Bailey said. "Those guys have put up a lot of numbers together. Big numbers. Right now, that's it. Everybody else doesn't matter to me."

About the only difference in Bailey this year is his health. He could have called Broncos trainer Steve Antonopulos his roommate last year with all the treatment he needed. He missed the entire preseason with a torn hamstring, only to re-injure it during the season. He also wore a harness for several weeks after separating his shoulder while stepping up to make a tackle in the infield dirt during the opening game at Miami.

Sore, battered, bruised and gimpy, Bailey nevertheless all but single-handedly turned a potentially disastrous season into one that nearly concluded with a trip to the Super Bowl. Without the pick and touchdown return against Brees, the Broncos likely would have started 0-2.

What would have happened from there is anybody's guess, but it's not unreasonable to surmise it would have fallen short of their 13-3 record and home-field advantage in the AFC championship game.

"It worked out good in the end, but it was rough living with all those injuries last year," Bailey said. "It's a lot better this year."

Inside the Denver locker room, it wasn't just Bailey's big plays that gained respect but that he made them while playing hurt. Jake Plummer, the Broncos' starting quarterback, not only says Bailey is the best player on the team, but one of the best players in the NFL, period.

"There are stars and there are superstars," Lynch said. "Champ's a superstar."

Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost

[Kaylore]

He had one of his best seasons missing two games and working with one and a half arms and one leg.

[Killericon]

...There are so many of these type of guys on our roster it's unbelievable.

[sbchampbronx]

how old is champ? Cuz eventually we r gonna have 3 amazing cbs, Champ, foxy and williams...one of them is prolly gonna leave soon, cuz they won't always b satisfied to b in only on nickle and dime packages.

[SoCalBronco]

Thanks baja...great stuff.

Go Champ!

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by killericon

...There are so many of these type of guys on our roster it's unbelievable.

Actually, Champ is a once in a generation kind of player. Yes, Al Wilson, Rod Smith, Tom Nalen etc. are great players, but guys like Champ are pretty special.

[Killericon]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Actually, Champ is a once in a generation kind of player. Yes, Al Wilson, Rod Smith, Tom Nalen etc. are great players, but guys like Champ are pretty special.

Naw, I meant "A Pro's Pro".

Those types.

I know that Champ is in a class all his own.

[watermock]

For Champ to have that kind of year battling injury reminds me of a certain WR.

By the end of the year he was almost fully back but DWill was a cripple out there. I think DWill is just as fierce a fighter as Champ and tried to emulate him, but he should of taken himself out and let Fox take the reps last week. He obviously had a drop off after something like week 12 or so. I commented on it but his injury wasn't disclosed. Playing with a torn groin is supposedly excruciatingly painfull.

We aren't paying Champ peanuts so he should stand out. He certainly hasn't slacked it after he got his 63 million dollar pudding, unlike a certain WR in Dallas via S.F. and Philly.

[OrangeShadow]

that was a good artciel,the part about the pro bowl was interesting