Champ Bailey wants to keep playing, could move to safety
The future Hall of Famer will return, but isn’t sure where he will be playing.
Doug Pensinger
Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey will return for another season in 2014, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
While it’s unclear whether Bailey will still be playing on the outside as a corner or be moved to safety, Bailey plans on suiting up for his 16th NFL season, the last 11 with Denver. This was a trying year for Bailey, who was limited to only five games due to nagging injuries.
"It was disappointing, you know, but I said before this game I'm an optimist. I'm not done playing football," Bailey said per Mile High Report. "I feel like I'm going to give myself another shot next year."
Denver has to make some decisions though, with seven free agents out of 22 starters. With households names such as Knowshon Moreno, Eric Decker and Wesley Woodyard hitting the market, Bailey's contract might be an issue.
The corner is due $10 million next year, cutting into the projected $126.3 salary cap. The Broncos might have to restructure the deal or even release him to save money. If Denver cut bait with Bailey, there would be no dead money involved.
With the Broncos’ other starting corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also a free agent and Chris Harris recovering from a torn ACL, Denver might have a hard time parting ways. Still, the draft is expected to be rich with corners in the first round, perhaps giving Denver a cheap way to get great talent.
Bailey’s play certainly isn’t worth his salary, but he might be valuable as a nickel corner. If that’s the case, it will take a lot of work to get Bailey down to a reasonable cap number.
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