Thread: Bears positional analysis: Cornerbacks

Originally Posted by soulman

The latest news on the Champ Bailey front comes from the Denver Post who reports that following the reopening of contract talks earlier this week, and despite Coach John Fox's statements that he would like him back, Bailey's agent reports that Champ put his $1.6 million dollar house on the market yesterday as an indication that his playing days in Denver are over.

Bailey's agent has been quoted as saying that Champ want to play for an winning team now that he's entering into the final years of his career. The Broncos who are in a serious rebuilding mode which may takes several seasons to accomplish don't seem to fit that bill. Given these facts I'd say that it's 80%-90% certain that he'll be playing for someone else next season and there's no reason he can't trade Broncos blue and orange in for the Bears navy and burnt orange. If the team really wants him we meet his criteria as a winner with a future.

As for the money, who knows what it will take. The Broncos offered him $40 mil over 4 season last fall then pulled the offer off the table when Bailey didn't immediately jump at it. He'll be 33 come July but he's still playing at the level of a shut down corner and seldom if ever gives up the big play. To me he'd be the perfect compliment to Tillman for the two or three more seasons they both may have at the top of their game.

Think about it. To avoid Bailey QB's would have to start throwing to Tillman's side again and with his abilties to get both picks and strips we cause a defensive dilemna that OC's would have to account for. Couple that with an improved pass rush and better play at safety and the Bears can become as effective at defending the pass as they are the run. We've got some aging defensive stars who eventually need to be replaced but there's no reason those players can't play championship caliber football for another few years and that's where our window of opportunity lies. We can't afford to slip backwards for another three years like we did following the Super Bowl appearance and spending money on a big time defensive FA again like we did with Peppers will payoff and in my opinion help to prevent that.

I don't know the substance of his latest negotiations but I'd be willing to bet the Broncos both lightened and shortened their offer to him. Pat Bowlen is on a kick to reduce costs by casting aside vets in favor of younger players since the vets couldn't do anything to improve on back to back losing seasons. He's also paying off millions to fired coaches Shanahan and McDaniels in addtion to waht he had to pay in order to get a coach like Fox. I think that if the Bears were willing to make him and offer in the neighborhood of what the Broncos offered but maybe with more bonus $$$ tied to his continued health and performance they may just walk away with one of the top prizes of FA. Unlike Asomugha I think we can get Bailey for less than $10 mil a year.

agree "if" bailey s willing to come for alot less be abetter use of cap psae and can fill 2-3 needs for teh price of one( aso
s contract).. but withot the CBA, so hard to even estimate markets and what FA's will get- one of the most interesting thin will be if the CBA drags out to Sept.... And team have roster's and cap space sort of set- those with alot of space will be in the drivers seat to take advantage of the smaller market and lower prices- really a big game of poker i going to happen, as all the FA's will want $$$ quick and not hold out

Originally Posted by dabears54

agree "if" bailey s willing to come for alot less be abetter use of cap psae and can fill 2-3 needs for teh price of one( aso
s contract).. but withot the CBA, so hard to even estimate markets and what FA's will get- one of the most interesting thin will be if the CBA drags out to Sept.... And team have roster's and cap space sort of set- those with alot of space will be in the drivers seat to take advantage of the smaller market and lower prices- really a big game of poker i going to happen, as all the FA's will want $$$ quick and not hold out

News yesterday had VP John Elway now saying the team was prioritizing Bailey's re-siging. Although reports say while the Broncos have apparently put last falls $40/4 yrs deal back on the table the sticking point may be the amount of guaranteed $$$. Bailey's deal included only $15 mil in guaranteed whereas the deal that the Raiders made with DT Richard Semour included $25 mil for just a two year deal. If he's holding out for that kind of money he's out of the Bears range and may be out of the Broncos range as well.

The wild card move? Back to Washington to reunite with Shanny and take advantage of Snyder's deep pockets and free spending ways.

denver fans seem less wanting champ than elway.. : )

There was a small turnout at a rally for cornerback Champ Bailey lobbying the Denver Broncos to retain the 10-time Pro Bowl selection.
It was only about 40 people, according to the Denver Post.

Bailey is a free agent and talks have been launched to work on a four-year contract extension, but no deal has been struck yet.
"Maybe this will help," Bailey told the Post in a text message. "Maybe we can get something done."

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/...ley-rally.html

I read that in this mornings Post. It really doesn't mean all that much the way I see it but then again how many NFL players ever have fans holding a rally for their re-signing?

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I'm more against going after Champ Bailey now than I was before. If he's 33 years old and demanding that kind of dough, there aren't going to be a lot of teams who will be willing to met him at his asking price. Personally, I say go after Nnamdi Asomugha if his asking price has the potential to lower than he wants, according to my Raiders pal. The thing is, is that Asomugha may not be able to get as much money as he wants because his stats didn't live up to the stipulations of his contract. Whether that was caused by his reputation as a shut-down corner is unknown and at that, potentially negligible. But he is an All-Pro CB and we need someone like that badly in our secondary.

Getting either Champ Bailey or Nnamdi Asomugha would greatly benefit the Bears, but I think one has to invest in the future as well, and Asomugha can be signed to a long term contract deal, while any deal pending with Bailey would last three years tops. Bailey may also not be an effective force at CB in the future, in which case the obvious choice to sign is Asomugha. Personally, I think he has the ability to be signed to a contract for as long as 5-7 years at his present age.

Bailey's no longer in play Dags. He re-signed with Denver for $43 mil / 4yrs. The "Donkeys" are guaranteeing all $11 mil of his 2011 salary and will guaranteed next years $11 mil if he's injured. No way we make that deal.