Champ feels blessed to be unbroken
Broncos’ Bailey, Mr. B to be inducted into Hall’s class of 2019 on Saturday
Until his final days, late, great Broncos owner Pat Bowlen adored a family dog named “Champ.” And for good reason. Although cornerback Champ Bailey represented both the nation’s capital and the Rocky Mountains during a brilliant NFL career that has earned him induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his gold jacket was won wearing a Denver uniform and his heart belongs to Broncos Country. Hey, Colorado: He’s our Champ. This Ohio town located somewhere between the heart and belly button of middle America is painted orange this weekend, with Broncos fans raising toasts to Mr. B and Bailey as they are honored in the Hall’s class of 2019. And what has Washington done to celebrate Bailey joining an elite fraternity of football immortals?
“Nobody from Washington had called me until three days ago,” Bailey said Friday. “I mean nobody … just to say congratulations.” Really?
At age 41, Bailey looks as if he could still run a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash and line up as the shutdown corner opposite Chris Harris Jr. in the defensive alignment for new Denver coach Vic Fangio.
“Looks can be deceiving,” said Bailey, feeling the gravitational pull of middle age and bemused at the changes he sees in the mirror. Father
Time is undefeated, even against Hall of Famers.
Truth be told? Rather than pine to get his football cleats on the grass one more time, Bailey is thankful he escaped from a 15-year professional career with his body and brain both in sound condition.
“I’m not wearing a helmet any more, which is great,” Bailey said. “Because I don’t know how I did what I did.”
Bailey not only had the skills to wrap up the opposing team’s No. 1 receiving target in a wet blanket, he also was unafraid to use every last ounce of his 192 pounds to bring down a ball carrier in the open field. The dude could tackle.
“Always below the waist,” Bailey reminded me. He embraced the game’s violence, but was smart enough to not allow the beast to eat him alive.
While Champ played in 215 NFL regular-season games, his kid brother wasn’t so fortunate. For five years in the league, Boss Bailey did duty as a linebacker, in the vortex of the game’s demolition-derby violence.
“I played 15 years. My brother played (five), and he deals with stuff all the time,” said Bailey, taking inventory of the havoc football wreaked on Boss.
”His ankles. His knees. Especially his knees. He had two micro-fracture surgeries. Each knee. ACL (surgery), two or three times, I can’t remember. I lost count. Seven different surgeries. It kind of puts it in perspective. Look at my brother. He didn’t play half as long as I did. And he suffered. So I’m fortunate. I’m very fortunate.”
Yes, being issued a gold jacket to be immortalized alongside your football idols is the thrill of a lifetime.
“Now I’m thinking, ‘Every event, do I have to wear my yellow jacket?’ Or do people just know I’m a Hall of Famer? I mean, how do I walk in the room?” said Bailey, chuckling at his next assignment of learning the protocols for his new, lofty status in NFL circles.
But maybe here’s the biggest blessing for a player that did battle in the NFL wars for 15 years, and hopes to walk this earth for another four decades:
Bailey is most thankful he can pull on that shiny gold coat without pain.
“I’m so fortunate,” Bailey said, “just to be able to get up from all those tackles and walk around now, able to lift my arms over my head.”
Every old Hall of Famer who gathered for the Gold Jacket dinner on Friday night is a legend. But what makes Bailey more remarkable than many of his legendary brethren? He’s unbroken.