Finally, Champ Gets His Due

Champ Bailey gets ranked as the league’s top defensive player. Photo Courtesy

Most bloggers and beat writers (including myself) use lists as fun ways to kill time in the offseason and give readers something to look over and debate. And usually they don’t cause quite a stir – but Pete Prisco’s List of Top 50 Players in the NFL has stirred things up a bit, particularly in the Broncos fanworld, where only representative was honored. I think Javon Walker should have been on there, and Matt Lepsis and Tom Nalen should have been considered as well. Had Al Wilson not have been cut, I would have been livid if he had not made it… but that’s not what this post is about. I wrote this post because I’m proud to report that Champ Bailey has finally gotten the recognition he deserves – he is THE BEST defensive player in the league, at least according to one significiant person in the media.

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady topped the list, followed by the Chargers’ Ladainian Tomlinson. Fourth overall, and the first defensive player listed, is Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, whom Prisco compares to Deion Sanders in his dominance over his man. Can’t argue with that, although TheSportsGuru over at Mile High Report has already made it clear that Bailey is a much better all around player than Sanders in run support and tackles.

Think about that – Sanders always knew how to run his mouth off, and he was one of the most popular players in the entire league. He was a superstar with a big game. And Bailey’s game is bigger. And better. A lot like Marvin Harrison of the Colts, Bailey works as a silent assassin – he lets his actions do all the talking. Also like Harrison, when listing the best of the bunch Harrison is always considered near the top – but rarely at the pinnacle.

So I’ve heard the list of best defensive players in the league a hundred times – Ray Lewis. Brian Urlacher. Jason Taylor. Last year, Troy Palumalu was often mentioned, and for good reason – he caused havoc in the AFC Championship game against our Broncos. And somewhere, usually at the 2-4 spot, is listed our beloved Bailey, who “doesn’t make big plays bigger” or some tired excuse like that.

And Broncos fans have known what they’ve had for years – no one is more complete and dominant at their position than Champ. I can only recall one touchdown over Champ all year long in the San Diego game last year – and that one barely slipped through his hands. Whether it’s shutting down the Ravens’ drive in the early Monday Night game last year or returning Alex Smith‘s pick for a touchdown in the season finale, Bailey was full of big plays all year long. I’ve seen Urlacher get run over by The Bus. Hell, I’ve seen Ray Lewis get run over by Tatum Bell. And Jason Taylor, to me, is a consistent, solid player who had a splurge of big plays at the end of the year to win the Defensive MVP title.

This year is Champ’s year. I’m hoping for Champ to win the Defensive MVP and Rod Smith to win the Comeback Player of the Year award, giving us two season player awards. And hell, give Travis Henry the Offensive MVP award while you’re at it.

Props to Prisco for recognizing, at least defensively, where the best talent in the NFL truly resides.