Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports
March 6, 2014
The Denver Broncos released veteran cornerback Champ Bailey, the team's longest tenured player, rather than pay him a $9 million salary in 2014.
Bailey, 35, will become a free agent for the first time in his career.
"I'm good. It's bittersweet. Now I get to go see what is out there," Bailey told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. "I'm looking at the positive side of it."
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Bailey said the Broncos did not offer him a pay cut. He was set to earn a $1 million bonus if he was on the roster March 15.
Bailey met with executive vice president John Elway and coach John Fox to be informed of his pending release, which became official Thursday. By cutting Bailey, who had the team's second-highest salary in 2013 behind only quarterback Peyton Manning, the Broncos will save $10 million toward the salary cap.
"It sucks, but at the same time, I have to move on. I can't dwell on it. I know they're not dwelling on it," Bailey said.
The team thanked him after making the announcement.
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"This was a difficult decision for our team with everything that Champ Bailey has meant to the Denver Broncos and this community over the last 10 years," Elway said in a statement.
"Without question, he's among the best cornerbacks to ever play the game and one of the finest players in the history of the Broncos. You couldn't ask for more in a player than what Champ brought to this team. His combination of elite talent, class, leadership and competitiveness made him one of the all-time greats.
"On behalf of everyone with the Broncos, I wish Champ all the best and thank him for everything he did for this franchise. Champ will always be a Bronco. We look forward to his Ring of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame election in the years ahead."
Bailey arrived in Denver in 2004 in a blockbuster player-for-player trade with the Washington Redskins for running back Clinton Portis. He re-signed with the Broncos in 2011 before he could hit free agency.
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Bailey leaves Denver with 52 career interceptions (34 as a Bronco) and 12 Pro Bowl selections (eight with the Broncos). He was a first-round pick by Washington in 1999.
Bailey is coming off the most difficult year of his 16-year career, starting only three games in the regular season because of a nagging foot injury. He returned to the starting lineup for the AFC Championship Game and played in his first Super Bowl in the Broncos' loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Bailey said he does not plan to retire and is looking forward to being a free agent for the first time in his career. He said he would like to continue playing cornerback but would consider a position change to safety.
"I just want to see what people will want me to do. My vision is to still play corner, but I'm a little more open-minded about the season I had last year." Bailey said. "I'm a corner at heart. If a situation made sense to play safety, then I would consider it."
Expect the Broncos to focus their free agent attention on the secondary, with starting right cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie set to become an unrestricted free agent Tuesday. Denver's other starter, Chris Harris, is a restricted free agent and is waiting for a tender offer the team that will determine his 2014 salary — and how attractive he might be to other teams looking for a starter.
Harris had surgery in early February to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in Denver's divisional playoff game against the San Diego Chargers.
Follow national NFL reporter Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.
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| (Photo: Chris Humphreys, USA TODAY Sports) |
Bailey, 35, will become a free agent for the first time in his career.
"I'm good. It's bittersweet. Now I get to go see what is out there," Bailey told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. "I'm looking at the positive side of it."
MOCK DRAFT 2.0: Who will Texans take No. 1?
JIMMY GRAHAM: Packers should go after him
Bailey said the Broncos did not offer him a pay cut. He was set to earn a $1 million bonus if he was on the roster March 15.
Bailey met with executive vice president John Elway and coach John Fox to be informed of his pending release, which became official Thursday. By cutting Bailey, who had the team's second-highest salary in 2013 behind only quarterback Peyton Manning, the Broncos will save $10 million toward the salary cap.
"It sucks, but at the same time, I have to move on. I can't dwell on it. I know they're not dwelling on it," Bailey said.
The team thanked him after making the announcement.
FTW: How does Bailey rate against recent star CBs?
"This was a difficult decision for our team with everything that Champ Bailey has meant to the Denver Broncos and this community over the last 10 years," Elway said in a statement.
"Without question, he's among the best cornerbacks to ever play the game and one of the finest players in the history of the Broncos. You couldn't ask for more in a player than what Champ brought to this team. His combination of elite talent, class, leadership and competitiveness made him one of the all-time greats.
"On behalf of everyone with the Broncos, I wish Champ all the best and thank him for everything he did for this franchise. Champ will always be a Bronco. We look forward to his Ring of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame election in the years ahead."
Bailey arrived in Denver in 2004 in a blockbuster player-for-player trade with the Washington Redskins for running back Clinton Portis. He re-signed with the Broncos in 2011 before he could hit free agency.
ONE-YEAR DEALS: How they actually can benefit veterans
PORTLAND RAIDERS? Oregon fans start petition for team
Bailey leaves Denver with 52 career interceptions (34 as a Bronco) and 12 Pro Bowl selections (eight with the Broncos). He was a first-round pick by Washington in 1999.
Bailey is coming off the most difficult year of his 16-year career, starting only three games in the regular season because of a nagging foot injury. He returned to the starting lineup for the AFC Championship Game and played in his first Super Bowl in the Broncos' loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Bailey said he does not plan to retire and is looking forward to being a free agent for the first time in his career. He said he would like to continue playing cornerback but would consider a position change to safety.
"I just want to see what people will want me to do. My vision is to still play corner, but I'm a little more open-minded about the season I had last year." Bailey said. "I'm a corner at heart. If a situation made sense to play safety, then I would consider it."
Expect the Broncos to focus their free agent attention on the secondary, with starting right cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie set to become an unrestricted free agent Tuesday. Denver's other starter, Chris Harris, is a restricted free agent and is waiting for a tender offer the team that will determine his 2014 salary — and how attractive he might be to other teams looking for a starter.
Harris had surgery in early February to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in Denver's divisional playoff game against the San Diego Chargers.
Follow national NFL reporter Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.
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