Thread: It's Finally Time To Move Champ To Safety

The Broncos are one lucky team. They have two all-pro, Hall-of-Fame caliber leaders. Even luckier is that they possess one on each side of the ball. One of them is Super Bowl winning quarterback Peyton Manning and the other is 13 time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey. The latter of the two should switch positions, to safety.

Bailey is 35 years old and can’t seem to shake the foot injury that has plagued him off and on since August 17th when the Broncos played the Seahawks in the preseason. Champ has played a total of six quarters all season - out of ten games.

Recovering from his injury is not the only thing Champ has been slow at.

Take for instance that the last game, at full health, that he’s played was the January 12th, 2012 divisional playoff matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. In that matchup, he didn’t look at all like the Champ we used to know and got beat all night by Torrey Smith. In other words, the last time we saw Champ in a meaningful game, he was a liability. Even against the Jaguars, this year, he was a shell of himself.

Two players who aren’t liabilities are Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Chris Harris. Both are not only better players than an aging Champ Bailey, but are grading out as two of the best corners in all of football. Harris is arguably the most underrated player in the league and has seven interceptions over his first three years and he’s picked up a lot of what he’s learned from Bailey. Rodgers-Cromartie has played amazing all season, shutting down the left side of the field and has showed phenomenal speed and agility.

Moving Champ to safety has the potential to help for the future as well....CONTINUE READING

Maybe, but at the same time, do we trust that he can make the conversion to a position that he has NEVER played before...this point in the season????? How many plays has he diagnosed from that position? We've seen EXPERIENCED safeties make bad reads and reacts...what about a guy that is watching the game through CB eyes? Woodson was as good of a corner as they come, but a TERRIBLE safety. So it doesn't just always come as this "easy transition" that so many seem to believe.

To me, you can't possibly change him at this stage of the season, and then going into next year, we can't afford to keep his salary.

Uh oh....lol

Champ had an awesome year last year, then one week later he had a bad game. Did he suddenly age over the course of that week? Sure, at this age he heals slower, but I think we need to let him get healthy before we judge him. He obviously came back too soon, meaning he now has to listen to the nay-sayers. My hope is we get him healthy...truly healthy...before the playoffs begin.

Originally Posted by dab

Champ had an awesome year last year, then one week later he had a bad game. Did he suddenly age over the course of that week? Sure, at this age he heals slower, but I think we need to let him get healthy before we judge him. He obviously came back too soon, meaning he now has to listen to the nay-sayers. My hope is we get him healthy...truly healthy...before the playoffs begin.

Great post, and welcome to Broncos Forums

Ahhhh shit, Zam has taken over the Spano Network. May God have mercy on your souls!!

I think Champ could be as good as Rod Woodson was when he made the switch, IF, he can get healthy. I'd love to see it. If he decides to hang 'em up, I can respect that too.

Originally Posted by Slick

I think Champ could be as good as Rod Woodson was when he made the switch, IF, he can get healthy. I'd love to see it. If he decides to hang 'em up, I can respect that too.

Same. I really dont think it would be that much of a problem for him.

Originally Posted by Slick

I think Champ could be as good as Rod Woodson was when he made the switch, IF, he can get healthy. I'd love to see it. If he decides to hang 'em up, I can respect that too.

Or he could make the transition like Charles Woodson, which is NOT good.

Switching Champ Bailey to safety will magically heal his foot.

Originally Posted by Ravage!!!

Or he could make the transition like Charles Woodson, which is NOT good.

Woodson played excellent in Green Bay when their young corners took over and Woodson was able to be more of a rover and Dom Capers used him that way. Charles Woodson this year on the Raiders, yeah, he hasn't done much.

Originally Posted by MOtorboat

Switching Champ Bailey to safety will magically heal his foot.

Who said that, Mo?

What a dumb post.

I would tend to think Champ has the smarts to make the transition fairly smoothly.

DRC, Harris, Webster & even recently Jammer have been playing well at CB. S is now a much bigger need. If Champ is healthy enough to play, put him where he will make the biggest difference. I see that as S, but I'll be happy to see him back in any capacity!

Originally Posted by Ravage!!!

Originally Posted by Slick

I think Champ could be as good as Rod Woodson was when he made the switch, IF, he can get healthy. I'd love to see it. If he decides to hang 'em up, I can respect that too.

Or he could make the transition like Charles Woodson, which is NOT good.

I dont doubt Champs ability to transition but I am more worried that his foot will never be the same. A healthy Champ is really what we need to see first.

Originally Posted by DenBronx

I dont doubt Champs ability to transition but I am more worried that his foot will never be the same. A healthy Champ is really what we need to see first.

Absolutely. A safety with all the smarts in the world isn't going to help us if he can't run.