Champ Bailey's Super Bowl

Atlanta Falcons

Champ Bailey's Super Bowl

Denver Broncos veteran Champ Bailey played in his first Super Bowl Sunday - 15 years after he was drafted in the first round of NFL Draft out of Georgia.

Denver Broncos 15-year veteran Champ Bailey played his first Super Bowl on Sunday. The cornerback out of Georgia entered the league in 1999 as the seventh overall pick - held originally by the Chicago Bears - in the NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.

This by far has been Bailey's most difficult season, having missed a number of games after sustaining a Lisfranc sprain in his left foot during the preseason game against, low and behold, the Seattle Seahawks. The 35-year-old Bailey played just five games this season, starting just three times.

Despite his limited play this season, Champ Bailey played a key role in getting the Broncos to Super Bowl XLVIII - the team's first title game since defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999. Covering the slot in the Broncos' AFC title game victory over the Patriots, Bailey played 56 of 59 snaps as the defense shut down Tom Brady.

Champ Bailey, who is signed through next season at $9 million, answered many questions last week about his 15-year journey to an NFL title game.

Champ Bailey told the media masses about his 15-year journey to a Super Bowl: "I think that's the way it works out. If I was supposed to be here, I would have been here a long time ago."

It wasn't all business for Champ Bailey during Super Bowl week in New York. He was announced to the crowd as he watched the New York Knicks play the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

The 35-year-old Champ Bailey, a a 12-time Pro Bowl cornerback, was teammates with Hall of Famers Darrell Green and Deion Sanders.

Prior to Sunday's game, Champ Bailey answered several questions about his health and his longevity in the game. "It's been tough," Bailey said. "But I'm not looking back. I've felt good for about a month and I continue to feel better, and that's all I can ask for. I can't get all those days and weeks back — that's behind me — but what's in front of me is big, and I know it. I understand it. I am ready for it."

Champ Bailey, who had a reduced role in the nickel package, had a rough go Sunday night. The worst play of Bailey's night probably was when he got beat on a 37-yard completion from Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin that set up a Seattle field goal.

Champ Bailey was able to stop Seattle Seahawks' Percy Harvin, the offense's X-factor after missing all but one regular-season game and one playoff game. Harvin had a few key plays on end-arounds and a 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Champ Bailey took a stiff-arm from Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson that became the poster proving Denver's struggles to contain the Seahawks' offense.

Denver Broncos' Champ Bailey, who along with quarterback Peyton Manning had been rumored to be considering retirement, scoffed at the suggestion that he would call it quits after the loss. "I love the game and I can still play," Bailey said. "That's pretty much what it is. That's all it is. ... It's a little embarrassing to lose like that, but I'm still gonna hold my head up."

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Denver Broncos 15-year veteran Champ Bailey played his first Super Bowl on Sunday. The cornerback out of Georgia entered the league in 1999 as the seventh overall pick - held originally by the Chicago Bears - in the NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.

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