Champ Bailey

Roland "Champ" Bailey (born June 22, 1978) is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Georgia and earned All-American honors. Bailey was drafted in the first round (seventh overall pick) of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, and he has played professionally for the Redskins and Broncos.

Bailey ranks first among Denver Broncos in all-time career interceptions. He has appeared in eleven Pro Bowls (the most for any cornerback), and is widely regarded as one of the best pass defenders in NFL history.

Early years
Bailey was born in Folkston, Georgia. He attended Charlton County High School in Folkston, and played high school football for the Charlton County Indians. He was one of the most reliable shutdown corners in his high school years and was widely recruited by colleges across the nation.

College career
Bailey received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Georgia, where he played for the Georgia Bulldogs football team from 1996 to 1998. He was regarded as one of college football's greatest multiple threats (offense, defense and special teams) in his three seasons as a Bulldog. In his final year at Georgia, he registered 52 tackles (four for losses), three interceptions, seven passes defensed, 47 catches for 744 yards (15.8 avg.), five touchdowns, 84 yards rushing on 16 carries, 12 kickoff returns for 261 yards and four punt returns for 49 yards. He averaged 103.5 all-purpose yards per game and logged 957 plays (547 defense, 301 offense and 109 special teams) on the way to earning consensus first-team All-America and first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors and claiming the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player. Against the Virginia Cavaliers in the Peach Bowl, he caught 3 passes for 73 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown, rushed 3 times for 9 yards, returned 5 kickoffs for 104 yards, returned a punt 12 yards, and posted 2 tackles and 1 pass defended at cornerback. In 3 years at Georgia, he played 33 games (24 starts) and recorded 147 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, eight interceptions and 27 passes defended. He was an All-SEC first-team selection as a sophomore, starting every game at left cornerback and one game at wide receiver. Bailey set a school indoor long jump record in 1998 of 25-10$3⁄4$ feet to finish third at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

1999 NFL Draft
Bailey was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Redskins. He was the first player ever drafted from his hometown of Folkston, Georgia, an achievement Bailey states was big for his town to increase its interest in football.

Washington Redskins (1999–2003)
On July 24, 1999, Bailey signed a 5-year, $12 million contract including a $2 million signing bonus. Bailey quickly established a reputation as one of the league's best defensive backs. He was a large presence on an inconsistent Redskins defense and benefited from time spent with 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. In a surprising move, the Redskins gave Bailey permission to seek a trade.

Denver Broncos (2004–present)
Prior to the 2004 season, Bailey was traded to Denver along with a second-round draft pick (who ended up being Tatum Bell) for Clinton Portis. Following the trade, he signed a 7-year contract worth $63 million.

On September 12, 2004, during the NFL's opening Sunday Night Football game of the season, Bailey intercepted his first pass as a Bronco.

On January 14, 2006, in a divisional playoff game against the 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, who is also a former Georgia Bulldog.

In 2006, Bailey had 10 interceptions (tied for best in the NFL with 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 were unanimous choices for the NFL All-Pro team. Also in 2006, Ron Jaworski stated during a MNF pre-season game against the San Francisco 49ers that Bailey only got tested 35 times and only four passes were completed over him, none for touchdowns.

In 2009, Bailey did not allow a touchdown in 80 passes thrown his way that year, played in 98% of the snaps and remained one of the best-tackling cornerbacks in the game.

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.

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.

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

In 2011 was selected to the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl selection was his 11th, extending the record he set last season for trips by a cornerback.

During the 2012 offseason, Bailey was named the 48-best player in the NFL by the league's network, NFL Network.

NFL records

 * Most Pro Bowl selections for a cornerback (11)
 * Youngest player to intercept 3 passes in a game (21) (at Arizona Cardinals, 10/17/99)

Pro Bowl records

 * Most career interceptions in Pro Bowl (4) (tied with Deion Sanders and Everson Walls)

Personal life
He currently resides in Denver with his girlfriend Jessica Hererra, but has a house in West Virginia. He has one child with Hererra, who is an aspiring actress. Champ was quoted telling his local newspaper he was going to propose to his girlfriend sometime this summer. He is the older brother of linebacker Boss Bailey, who joined Champ on the Broncos for one season in 2008 after playing the first five years of his career on the Detroit Lions. Champ, Boss, oldest brother Ronald, and cousin Kenny all played at Georgia.