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| Bailey ends his 15 yr NFL career. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/ USA Today Sports |
Champ Bailey's brilliant career in the NFL has come to a close. He has now officially retired from the game after 15 years.
By: Michael Hanley
Bailey's agent Jack Reale revealed to multiple outlets that the former Broncos star corner back had decided to call it a career. Here is what Reale said to the Baltimore Sun:
"He's heard from several teams, I'm not going to say who, but this is the way that Champ has decided to go. He's had a great career."
It was a decision that is not surprising as his overall performance level had started to drop off the last couple of years. All players have to make this decision as one point or another but not all of them know exactly when to call it a career like Bailey has. Some feel like they must go on even though they are a shell of their former selves.
That leads to further wear and tear on their body and further risk of injury. For Bailey he leaves the game of football in a good state of mind, healthy body and still plenty of years left to now pursue and accomplish goals outside of football.
Bailey now will start the clock on when he is eligible for the Hall of Fame, which he is a lock to be a first ballot hall of famer, The earliest he can now be inducted is 2019, joining Tony Gonzalez and Ed Reed who also will be up for induction in that year.
Though Bailey had some tough moments during his last couple of years in the league, dealing with a foot injury in the 2013 season, had a bad performance in the Bronco's Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks. He also did not make the Saints week 1 roster after dealing with injury once again, derailing any chance of him being a impact player for New Orleans,
Those last two rough years though did not takeaway from his superb career overall. Drafted in 1999 by the Washington Redskins, he would go on and redefine the position of corner back as we know it. He went to the Broncos in a trade prior to the 2004 season. Bailey would start his run of dominance in the NFL as he would be a Pro Bowler for 12 of the next 13 seasons a remarkable achievement that is a mark that might not be matched again by another corner back.
In the 2006 season, he led the league with 10 interceptions.One of the many elite facets of his game, his ability to always be around the ball and his timing to pick one off in just the right moment in the game. He truly is a one of a kind player who will certainly see a bust of himself be made in Canton.
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