Thread: Bailey: 'I'll Be Out There'

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Champ Bailey has played in just three games this season, and finished just one.

In Week 7, he aggravated the preseason foot injury that has plagued him all season long, and when he returned to the field again in Week 13, he notched four tackles before leaving the game.

The good news is that the lack of playing time has him as fresh as possible entering Week 16 against the Houston Texans.

“My fingers aren’t banged up like they normally are this time of year. My shoulders don’t feel as bad," Bailey said after Thursday's practice, in which he was a full participant. "Those are the only things that have gotten a breather. My legs are still my legs. I’m 35 (laughs), they feel as good as they’re going to feel right now.”

rest - plus Bailey video
http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-an...8-8136572ef791

I hope he's able to stick his foot in the ground and go. If he can change direction and has confidence in the foot then I'm sure he can shore up our secondary and be an upgrade to Webster.

Originally Posted by Davii

I hope he's able to stick his foot in the ground and go. If he can change direction and has confidence in the foot then I'm sure he can shore up our secondary and be an upgrade to Webster.

I'm praying we see an above average Bailey from here on out. I'm not expecting the old Champ or even last years Champ. I hate to see him go out like this.

On the one hand, an injury like that not only kept him out of games, but off the practice field, so I've wondered how his stamina and explosiveness are now; whether he's in midseason/playoff form or the "pitch count" he was on in the first KC game is more typical of what we can expect at this stage. However, it's also true his foot's probably the ONLY thing as bruised and battered as most NFL players are in mid-December. If it's finally 100% and the rest is fresh and whole, Champ could have a storybook playoff run, and take us with him.

That's certainly what I'm hoping; I'm not sure if he'd be outside and Harris in the slot (though that's what I expect,) but BOTH would be far better nickelbacks than Webster, Carter or Jammer. Of those three, I like Webster best in future seasons and Jammer best now, but the first isn't (quite) ready yet and the second's showing his age: We NEED Champ against playoff teams.

As much as I like Champ and what he has done for us if if he is playing like "weak sauce" the first quarter Del Rio needs to pull him.
There is no room for sentimentality when you are ramping up for a playoff run.

Originally Posted by EastCoastBronco

As much as I like Champ and what he has done for us if if he is playing like "weak sauce" the first quarter Del Rio needs to pull him.
There is no room for sentimentality when you are ramping up for a playoff run.

I take it for granted he'll only be out there if he brings more to the table than all alternatives; if not, we'll be back with Webster and/or Jammer. However, just because he's slowER doesn't mean he's SLOW; he may not be able to go stride for stride with a guy who runs a 4.3, especially after months of being a spectator even at practice, but I bet he can still beat a 4.5. The questions in my mind are 1) is his foot fully healed and 2) can he last a full game? A career in Mile High air may aid his endurance (though Houston air gets pretty thick and moist, petrochemicals aside.)

The odds are definitely not in our favor on this one. Poor Champ.

Although my feelings about Champ are that he's done, I hope he plays a good game and doesn't hurt us. We need this game. Have to have it for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I'll be pretty uneasy watching him out there. If I'm Houston's O- coordinator, I'm throwing at him every down and test him early on. Nobody is going to shy away from a 35 year old CB who has played minimal snaps this year. I think they will be aggressive in throwing at him. You have a guy who really isn't in game shape since he's hasn't played a whole lot. It's going to be interesting to see how he does. I hope I'm wrong on how I feel about him. I loved Champ since the Portis trade, but reality has sunk in for me. Again, hope I'm wrong about him. Go Broncos!!!

I guess I was right last year: It really IS as simple as "he's either the GoAT or competely useless." If Champ plays Sunday (as it sounds like he will, at least to start) Houston won't target him anymore than NE, KC, Tennessee and SD did Webster, and won't torch him as consistently. Remember, Webster was our #2 CB the last 4 games; I don't know why, unless the coaches thought Harris was the ONLY one capable of playing the slot, but that's how it was. And it was a disaster; Champ couldn't help being an improvement if he tried.

Champ Bailey is a Hall of Fame cornerback and the thought of Matt Schaub "picking" on him for an entire game as a weak link in our secondary has INT written all over it. Champ will have multiple interceptions if he can stay healthy and weather the initial storm of everything going towards his side of the field.

I don't think he's done and neither do the coaches or the front office. If they did, he would have been put on IR a long time ago.

Originally Posted by Davii

I hope he's able to stick his foot in the ground and go. If he can change direction and has confidence in the foot then I'm sure he can shore up our secondary and be an upgrade to Webster.

I just hope he doesn't get beat deep and then "trip on the grass"

Originally Posted by UnderArmour

Champ Bailey is a Hall of Fame cornerback and the thought of Matt Schaub "picking" on him for an entire game as a weak link in our secondary has INT written all over it. Champ will have multiple interceptions if he can stay healthy and weather the initial storm of everything going towards his side of the field.

I don't think he's done and neither do the coaches or the front office. If they did, he would have been put on IR a long time ago.

I hope you're right. I don't see it though. I think they pick on him until he proves he can keep up. That's what they should do in my opinion. Hell, he's barely played this year. I personally don't think Del Rio has that much confidence in him. He's already pulled him out of games this year. Why would he do that if he had confidence in him.?

Originally Posted by weazel

I just hope he doesn't get beat deep and then "trip on the grass"

He's done that before. I go back to a Bengals game on MNF way back years ago when he got beat several times and then started "tripping" over his own feet and acted like he fell down. It was so obvious.

Originally Posted by Bronco9798

He's done that before. I go back to a Bengals game on MNF way back years ago when he got beat several times and then started "tripping" over his own feet and acted like he fell down. It was so obvious.

Ya I know, that's why I said it. He's done it all too often.

I really do forget what a great season Champ had outside of the playoff game last year (when our whole defense seemed to take the day off). I think as long as he is confident and healthy he is the one I still want lining up. Hopefully he can shake off most of the rust in these last two games and help us out in the playoffs. If we manage to go all the way I want him to be a part of it because he has been the class of this organization for years. He could have left at any time and he always chose to stay here.

It's similar to Ray Lewis last year. Aging hall of famer, not playing his best but doing just enough to help his team win it all. He had that late season injury, too. Get champ some deer antler spray!