Bailey says he never plans on playing safety
Share This Story
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)
Champ Bailey admires Ronde Barber. He just doesn't want to follow in his footsteps.
Barber is a 37-year-old cornerback who has been converted to safety this season and has four interceptions, which leads the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver's next opponent.
Bailey, 34, is the most decorated cornerback in league history with a record 11 Pro Bowls. He said he appreciates Barber's longevity, but doesn't foresee himself ever switching to safety.
''I don't plan on doing that,'' Bailey said Thursday. ''I do admire the way he's been able to play at a high level. He's one of those guys I do look up to and kind of pay attention to what he's doing.''
As Bailey gets long in the tooth himself, he said he also looks up to former NFL great Rod Woodson, who moved to free safety his last five seasons after a torn ACL ended his days as a cornerback.
Another player he reveres is former teammate Darrell Green, a Hall of Famer who played cornerback at Washington his entire 22-year career. Bailey played with Green from 1999-2002, the last three of which, Green was a reserve.
''Yeah, I've always said if it comes to the point where I have to come off the bench, I don't know if I could deal with that,'' Bailey said. ''And he did it for like three years. So, we started together that one year but after that he was coming off the bench. So, I don't know if I'm made that way. We'll see. But right now I just think about what he used to do to prepare himself for games, after games, I remember all that stuff.''
It's long been thought Bailey would switch to safety after his skills started to decline - and they've shown no signs of dipping in this, his 14th NFL season.
Asked to clarify that he'll never consider a move to safety, Bailey retorted: ''I didn't say that. I said I don't PLAN on it.''
Since entering the league as the seventh overall pick out of Georgia in 1999, Bailey ranks third in the league and first among cornerbacks with 51 interceptions. He also leads the league with 199 pass breakups since 1999, just ahead of Barber's 197.
Bailey is having another stellar season and in January could tie the NFL record for most Pro Bowls played with 12 - but that's one honor he'd rather leave to Randall McDaniel and Will Shields because he'd rather be back home getting ready for the Super Bowl the following week in New Orleans.
---
Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL
---
Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Warriors fans killed in shooting
Two Golden State Warriors fans were killed in a shooting following Thursday night's p... -
Ex-NBA player stabbed in fight
Serbian police say Predrag Danilovic, who played for the Miami Heat and Dallas Maveri... -
Oxbow goes wire to wire in Preakness
Oxbow has won the Preakness, ruining Orb's bid to capture the Triple Crown. -
Griner: Mulkey told me to stay mum
In an interview, Brittney Griner says Baylor coach Kim Mulkey did not want the star p... -
Birdwoman says sorry for gesture
Heat fan Filomena "Birdwoman" Tobias is trying to bury the middle finger once and for...
NFL Videos
Schrager: Irvin suspended four games
Posted: May 17, 2013
Peter Schrager on the four-game suspension handed down to Seattle's Bruce Irvin.
Peter Schrager on the four-game suspension handed down to Seattle's Bruce Irvin.
Luck visits IMS for Indy 500 practice
Posted: May 17, 2013
Hear what Colts QB Andrew Luck has to say about IndyCar racing.
Hear what Colts QB Andrew Luck has to say about IndyCar racing.
NFL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green - | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Jets/browse/featuredproduct/800466/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800466_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green - |
| Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Steelers/browse/featuredproduct/800489/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800489_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold |
| Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_49ers/browse/featuredproduct/801102/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_801000/ff_801102_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet |
| Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Detroit_Lions/browse/featuredproduct/825450/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825450_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue |
| Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_England_Patriots/browse/featuredproduct/825465/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825465_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue |
| Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/830781/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_830000/ff_830781_xl.jpg&w=100 | 94.95 | Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue |
| Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Denver_Broncos/browse/featuredproduct/845755/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_845000/ff_845755_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange |
| Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Jacksonville_Jaguars/browse/featuredproduct/851602/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851602_xl.jpg&w=100 | 49.99 | Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal |
| New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Green_Bay_Packers/browse/featuredproduct/853845/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853845_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green |
| New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_Orleans_Saints/browse/featuredproduct/853852/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853852_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.