So Long Champ..

The first significant move of the Broncos offseason transpired today when the team released Champ Bailey. Bailey was due $10 million this upcoming year, and it was not a shocking move at all. In fact, many Broncos fans had anticipated this move from about the middle of the season. The Broncos will save $10 million in cap space with the transaction. It is a sad day because it marks the end of one of the greatest Broncos in franchise history. For younger Broncos fans, Champ was the main superstar and constant for this team over the last 10 years. When the Broncos dealt Clinton Portis for Bailey before the 2004 season, it was a move that was designed to transform an average defense into an elite one. I don't think it ever really made the Broncos an elite defense, but Champ Bailey certainly continued to play at an elite level in Denver. His highlight as a Bronco will always be his interception of Tom Brady in the 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff Game. Up 10-6, the Broncos were in trouble as the Pats were driving deep in Denver territory. Bailey jumped up and intercepted a Brady pass at the goal line and raced down the sideline. He ran out of gas and got knocked out of bounds at the one-yard line, but Denver scored the next play and extended the lead to 17-6. It was truly the turning point of the game, and it helped Denver go onto to win the game 27-13. Anytime you ask or think about that game the memory of Bailey's pick of Brady is the first thing that pops up. People forget how Bailey put together two of the best seasons a cornerback can have in 2005 and 2006. He should have won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in '06, but those two years featured Bailey at his best. Yes, he had some tough seasons where he had to fight through injury like in 2008, but he bounced back and had solid seasons in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. I never forget watching Champ completely shut down Dwayne Bowe late in the 2010 season. As Denver was going through a nightmare year, the Broncos were playing at KC with a 3-8 record against the then AFC West leading Chiefs. Champ still competed his butt off, and he completely frustrated and shut down Bowe. In the midst of an awful year, he continued to play his ass off, and Broncos fans appreciated it. I also appreciated how he re-signed with Denver after the nightmare 4-12 season of 2010. Instead of leaving and heading to a contender, Bailey put his faith in John Elway and John Fox, remained loyal, and stayed with Denver. He was rewarded by going back to the playoffs three straight years, and appearing in his first Super Bowl last year. The last couple of years you could see that Bailey was losing a step. After a solid 2012 season, Champ got torched by Torrey Smith in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against Baltimore. After dealing with a foot injury that sidelined him for the first five games of the 2013 season, Bailey came back against lowly Jacksonville and promptly got burnt by Justin Blackmon all game long. He hurt his foot again the next week, and basically came back for only the final few games. He played admirably as a nickel corner against the Chargers and the Patriots in the playoffs, but he got burnt multiple times by the Seahawks. It is sad that is last game as a Broncos will be that awful loss in the Super Bowl to Seattle, but it still can't take away the memories of watching #24 in orange and blue for 10 years. He was a great leader for the team, he was great in the community, and he was one of the real good guys to root for in Denver. Thanks for the memories Champ! It was a pleasure.