Super Bowl 2014 Players: Veteran Broncos Star Champ Bailey In First SB; Will He Retire?
Champ Bailey is getting the chance to do what so many other stars have only dreamed of: Play in the Super Bowl.
The difference between the average Broncos player making it to the Super Bowl for the first time and Champ Bailey making it to the Super Bowl, however, is more than a decade.
At 35 years of age, it's Bailey's first Super Bowl and the veteran cornerback has been trying to get there for a decade and a half. Even more than that, he is making sure to prepare this week because if he loses then it would be all for naught. It's all about the Super Bowl ring; nobody cares how many Super Bowls a player has been unless it translates into a ring.
Not only has it been a long road to the Super Bowl for Bailey, it has also been a load road back for him in recovering from injuries. He missed a great deal of the 2014 season due to a foot injury but he is thankfully healed up enough to play on the biggest stage.
If Bailey wins a ring, it would be the perfect complement to an already impressive resume. A measure of his career success can be seen in his contract; even at his age, he is set to be the second highest paid player on the team next season. The 2014-2015 season would be the final year of his contract and it wouldn't be surprising if it ends up being his final NFL contract.
As interesting as Bailey's situation is heading into the Super Bowl, he has been able to dodge the direct spotlight, which has been heavily focused on Peyton Manning, Richard Sherman, Marshawn Lynch, and Russell Wilson.
As Bailey takes the field, the fans will surely cheer him on but not just because he is a good football player. Considering his age and the stage of his career, some may actually prefer that he call it quits if he wins in the Super Bowl.
Do you think Bailey and the Broncos will win the big game?