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Champ Bailey
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==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 11+3/4 | weight = 184 | dash = 4.28 | ten split = 1.48 | twenty split = 2.49 | shuttle = 3.79 | cone drill = | vertical = 37.0 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 1 | bench = | arm span = 31+3/8 | hand span = 9 | note = All values from [[NFL Combine]] and Georgia [[Pro Day]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=60922&DraftYear=1999 |title=Champ Bailey, Georgia, CB, 1999 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=August 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=4886 |title=Champ Bailey, Combine Results, CB - Georgia |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=August 27, 2021}}</ref> }} ===Washington Redskins=== Bailey was selected with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the [[1999 NFL draft]] by the Redskins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419222959/http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1999 |archive-date=April 19, 2008 |title=NFL Draft History: Full Draft|website=[[NFL.com]] }}</ref> He was the first ever drafted player to come from his hometown of Folkston, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Champ Bailey "Something To Prove"|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/216688-champ-bailey-something-to-prove|last=T|first=David|website=Bleacher Report|language=en|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> On July 24, 1999, Bailey signed a 5-year, $12 million contract including a $2 million signing bonus.<ref>"REDSKINS, LIONS SIGN NO 1 DRAFT PICKS", [[Chicago Tribune]], July 25, 1999.</ref> Bailey quickly established a reputation as one of the league's best defensive backs.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_50_228/ai_n8576576/ | work=The Sporting News | title=Shutdown corner: the term starts and ends with Deion | first=Troy | last=Aikman | year=2004}}</ref> He was a large presence on the Redskins defense and benefited from time spent with eventual [[Hall of Fame]] cornerback teammates [[Deion Sanders]] and [[Darrell Green]]. After the 2003 season, Bailey's contract with the Redskins expired and he threatened to boycott training camp if the club exercised the [[franchise tag]].<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/broncos-swap-portis-for-bailey-1.473673 Broncos swap Portis for Bailey], CBC Sports, March 5, 2004.</ref> In a surprising move, the Redskins gave Bailey permission to seek a trade.<ref>Len Pasquarelli, [https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=1734533 'Skins could use 'franchise' tag on CB; Champ Bailey, one of the league's top cornerbacks, was surprisingly given permission by the Redskins to seek a trade], ESPN, February 16, 2004.</ref> ===Denver Broncos=== Prior to the 2004 season, Bailey was traded to Denver along with a second-round draft pick for [[Clinton Portis]]. On September 12, 2004, during the NFL's opening [[ESPN Sunday Night Football|Sunday Night Football]] game of the season against the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], Bailey intercepted his first pass as a Denver Bronco. On January 14, 2006, in a [[2005-06 NFL playoffs|Divisional Round playoff game]] against the defending champion [[New England Patriots]], he broke the record for the longest non-scoring play in NFL history at the time. With the Patriots near the goal line, he intercepted a pass from quarterback [[Tom Brady]] in the end zone and returned it 100 yards to the New England one-yard line before he was tackled by New England's [[Benjamin Watson]]. In [[2006 NFL season|2006]], Bailey had 10 interceptions (tied for best in the NFL with Patriots cornerback [[Asante Samuel]]) and did not give up a touchdown during the season. Bailey, [[San Diego Chargers]] [[running back]] [[LaDainian Tomlinson]] and [[Miami Dolphins]] [[defensive end]] [[Jason Taylor (American football player)|Jason Taylor]] were unanimous choices for the NFL All-Pro team. Following the season's conclusion, Bailey finished second in voting for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. In 2009, Bailey did not allow a touchdown in 80 passes thrown his way that year, played on 98% of the snaps and remained one of the best-tackling cornerbacks in the game.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15354803 |work=Denver Post |first=Mike |last=Klis |title=Broncos will have to deal with Bailey decision |date=June 23, 2010}}</ref> On September 15, 2009, Bailey was chosen for the Broncos 50th Anniversary team by the Denver community. This team was honored during the halftime show of the Legacy game versus the Patriots on October 11.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.milehighreport.com/2009/9/15/1032381/denver-broncos-50th-anniversary/ |title = Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team Released|date = September 15, 2009}}</ref> In 2010, Bailey matched up against some of the NFL's best wideouts. He held [[Dwayne Bowe]] to no catches on 2 targets. The [[Arizona Cardinals]] only completed 3 passes on him for 19 yards in a game where he matched up with [[Larry Fitzgerald]]. Bailey was selected to play in his record-breaking 10th Pro Bowl. No cornerback in NFL history has been to more.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}} He was ranked 48th by his fellow players on the [[NFL Top 100 Players of 2011]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 NFL Top 100 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/2011-nfl-top-100.htm |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> It was announced on February 22, 2011, by the Broncos vice president of football operations, [[John Elway]], that Bailey was re-signed to a 4-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_17454037 |work=Denver Post |first=Mike |last=Klis |title=Broncos re-sign Champ Bailey to four-year contract for $43 million |date=February 22, 2011}}</ref> During the 2012 offseason, Bailey was named the 46th-best player in the NFL by the league's network, [[NFL Network]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://broncotalk.net/2012/05/37292/broncos-blog/champ-bailey-ranked-no-46-in-nflns-top-100/ | title=Champ Bailey ranked No. 46 in NFLN's Top 100 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | archive-date=June 3, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603205233/http://broncotalk.net/2012/05/37292/broncos-blog/champ-bailey-ranked-no-46-in-nflns-top-100/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2012, Bailey was named an All-Pro for the 8th time of his career and was selected to the [[2013 Pro Bowl]]. The Pro Bowl selection was his 12th, extending the record he set for trips by a cornerback, and tied the record for most Pro Bowls played, along with [[Randall McDaniel]] and [[Will Shields]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/mind-blowing-stats-for-the-2013-pro-bowl-0ap1000000130611|title=Mind-blowing stats for the 2013 Pro Bowl|work=[[National Football League]]|date=January 24, 2013|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> On December 6, 2012, Bailey recorded the 52nd and final interception of his career, picking off [[Carson Palmer]] in a 26β13 victory on [[Thursday Night Football]] over the [[2012 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nfl.com/games/broncos-at-raiders-2012-reg-14?active-tab=plays|title=Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders|work=[[National Football League]]|date=December 6, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2024}}</ref> During the [[Mile High Miracle|2012 AFC Divisional Round]] against the [[2012 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]], Bailey was beaten woefully multiple times on deep routes by Ravens wide receiver [[Torrey Smith]], who totaled 98 yards for two touchdowns on three catches as Baltimore would go on to win in dramatic fashion 38β35 in double overtime, en route to eventually winning [[Super Bowl XLVII]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Torrey Smith Abuses Pro Bowler Champ Bailey|url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/torrey-smith-abuses-pro-bowler-champ-bailey-9350946|website=[[Baltimore Ravens]]|date=13 January 2013|access-date=24 December 2024}}</ref> Baileyβs struggles against Smith led to the initial speculation on the effectiveness of the aging 34-year-old cornerback. During the 2013 offseason, Bailey was named the 53rd-best player in the NFL by his peers on the league's network, NFL Network.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Top 100 Players of 2013 |url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/the-top-100-players-of-2013-0ap1000000166758#1fb25dc1-267c-4037-9e7a-2e728fa778a8 |website=[[National Football League]]|access-date=6 June 2024}}</ref> During the course of the 2013 season, while not making his season debut until Week 7 at the [[2013 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]], Bailey was limited to a career-low 5 games with a foot injury; however, Bailey returned in time for the playoffs and held his own when fellow cornerback, [[Chris Harris (cornerback)|Chris Harris]], was ruled out for the remainder of the season after a torn [[Anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Champ Bailey starting in place of Chris Harris |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/133217/champ-bailey |work=CBS Sports |date=January 19, 2014 |access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> Bailey played in his first Super Bowl at [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] in which he had 4 tackles in a 43β8 loss to the [[Seattle Seahawks]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201402020den.htm |title=Super Bowl XLVIII - Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos - February 2nd, 2014 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref> On March 6, 2014, the [[Denver Broncos]] released Bailey.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2014 |title=Broncos release Champ Bailey |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/10559528/denver-broncos-release-veteran-cornerback-champ-bailey |access-date=March 6, 2014 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> ===New Orleans Saints=== On April 4, 2014, Champ Bailey signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the [[New Orleans Saints]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_25495319/champ-bailey-signing-new-orleans-saints-report |title = Champ Bailey agrees to terms with New Orleans Saints for two-year deal|date = April 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/champ-bailey-new-orleans-saints-agree-to-contract-0ap2000000339499|title=Champ Bailey, New Orleans Saints agree to contract|first=Gregg|last=Rosenthal|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> Bailey failed to make the final roster and was released by the team on August 30, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-roster-deadline-cutdown-bubble-top-10-michael-sam-champ-bailey-manningham-waivers-contracts/1c7awaz8cskk414ot4lsh2ckvp|title=Manningham, Bailey, Sam among top 10 potential roster cut casualties - Sporting News |date=August 29, 2014 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903040434/http://beta.sportingnews.com/article/4605504-nfl-roster-deadline-cutdown-bubble-top-10-michael-sam-champ-bailey-manningham-waivers-contracts |archive-date=September 3, 2014 }}</ref> ===Retirement=== Bailey announced his retirement from professional football on October 18, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/champ-bailey-retiring-after-15-nfl-seasons-0ap3000000419329 |title=Champ Bailey retiring after 15 NFL seasons |first=Marc|last=Sessler|work=NFL.com|date=October 28, 2014|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> On November 14, 2014, it was announced that Bailey would sign a [[one-day contract]] with Denver to allow him to officially retire as a Bronco.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/champ-bailey-to-sign-one-day-contract-retire-with-broncos-0ap3000000428115 | title=Champ Bailey to sign one-day contract, retire with Broncos| website=[[NFL.com]]|date=November 14, 2014|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> ===Pro Football Hall of Fame=== On February 2, 2019, Bailey was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in his first year of eligibility. He was enshrined on August 3, 2019, during a ceremony in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/pro-football-hall-of-fames-class-of-2019/|title=Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019|website=Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site}}</ref>
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