Blue Bailey brothers: Boss done for season, Champ at least a month
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published October 21, 2008 at 8:45 p.m.
Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.
Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky
Linebacker Boss Bailey appears to be ahead of schedule in his comeback from microfracture surgery on his left knee.
Drew on the NFL
Scores and statistics
- Broncos statistics
- Broncos schedule
- Broncos roster
- Broncos depth chart
- NFL scoreboard
- AFC standings
- NFC standings
Broncos inbox
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he hoped a bye week would be enough for the team to heal some in the wake of Monday night's 41-7 loss at New England. But Tuesday, the team got the kind of injury news it was hoping to avoid.
Linebacker Boss Bailey, who already had dealt with the effects of a severely sprained right ankle since training camp, is expected to miss the remainder of the year because of a knee injury.
Tests revealed enough damage that Bailey might require microfracture surgery - tiny holes are drilled in the bone to force bleeding, which forms substitute cartilage - in the coming days.
Champ Bailey, who suffered a groin injury in the first half, went for a magnetic resonance imaging exam and is expected to miss at least a month and possibly longer.
Boss Bailey likely will be moved to injured reserve in the coming days, and the Broncos might be on the hunt for another linebacker.
But they broke training camp with one more linebacker than they have kept in the past, seven compared with six, because they wanted to keep rookie Wesley Woodyard.
Rookie Jack Williams, who played in place of Champ Bailey on Monday, is expected to move into the left cornerback position after the team's bye.
The Broncos' next game is Nov. 2 against the Miami Dolphins at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
Broncos cheerleaders
October 21, 2008
8:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
den2mke writes:
'Microfracture surgery'?!?!? Are you kidding me?!?! If true, this guy isn't done for the season, but maybe his career. Everything I've ever seen in terms of recovery is at least a year--and folks like K-Mart, Amare Staudemire and others would tell you it's more like two. Time to move on with the failed Boss experiment.
So, here's a question: What does it do to Champ's attitude if his bro' gets cut loose, in what has surely been a bad experiment from the beginning for the Broncos?
October 21, 2008
8:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
Man, that is some pretty bad news. You know the other teams are going to go after our corners. I hope Jack is up for it. Bly needs to step up his game. Heal and hurry back Champ. We are going to miss you in there. Boss just can't stay healthy. Winborn will be in there but he needs to play better then he did last night.
October 21, 2008
9 p.m.
Suggest removal
Swick writes:
Time to start looking forward to the draft and FA. Boss needs to have his contract restructured if he wants to stay. Hate to say this, but I don't want to luck our way into the playoffs just because the rest of the AFC West is floundering. If we can't compete with the big dogs, I'd rather get a good position in the draft order. Dre Bly is gone after this season. He's made some timely interceptions in the past, but he gets beaten way too often and it's probably time in his career to start playing nickel.
October 21, 2008
9:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
RDenver writes:
Bye...bye...season! Five more months until Rockies spring training!
October 21, 2008
9:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
benn writes:
lol...rockies
October 21, 2008
10:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
deezBroncs1127 writes:
WOW!!! Everyone asks "can it get worse for the Broncos"? Yes folks it can get worse and it just did. Bye week or no bye week, our defense just went to probably the worst defense in the league. Yes even worse than the Chiefs who just gave up 300 + yds rushing, worse than the Lions who look like a team that couldn't stop a mouse from scoring.
I'm still gonna watch the games on sundays and root on my Broncos but its not gonna be fun to watch for the next month or the rest of the season. We have a young D-Line and I hope they take strides this year an learn about the NFL game in the trenches, because thats where the games are won and lost.
Rest up Stokely, Royal, Scheffler, Young, Cutler...Because you guys determine how the rest of the season is gonna turn out.
October 21, 2008
11:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
Chilo writes:
watch the games the only ones worth keeping on the d are the Bailey's and DJ from what I hear micro fracture recovery in football is not as bad as basketball get rid of Bly
October 21, 2008
11:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
dirkle writes:
Time to break out the old vcr and the '97 / '98 tapes.
October 21, 2008
11:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Swick writes:
Problem with Boss is this is not even close to his first knee surgury. He's catching up to Schrleth(sp). Not good for a LB. We're going to need every one of our draft picks this year. Those bad years of drafting really show when you need depth and have none. Anybody know how much extra cap space we're going to have next year? Seems like we should finally have caught up on some of the debt and might be able to sign a couple decent players(though FA has gone terribly wrong lately other than Grahm).
October 22, 2008
12:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
AZBroncosFan writes:
I think losing Boss Bailey is worse than we may think originally. Boss I dont think I saw him miss tackles or be out of assignment. Then again I am not much to know the guys assignments but he seemed to be doing decent. I did not expect him to carry the defense on his shoulders just play decent. I mean I guess the defense could not really get worse than it already is but Boss has heart and will do what is asked of him.
I say try that rookie or Spencer Larson. Either one might prove to be better than people think. Some new heart and new beat might do the Broncos some good. Jack Williams will do better after his first game starting. I saw him on Monday night and he looked a bit scared, nervous. I think he will do better when he knows he has a solid spot at a chance to excel, not just 30 minutes worth at trying to show your good.
October 22, 2008
2:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
SE7EN writes:
Now opposing offenses are going to have full use of the entire field now that Champ is out. As if our defense wasn't bad enough.
October 22, 2008
5:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
CP writes:
I think we need to get John Lynch back!!!
October 22, 2008
5:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
StarsNStripes writes:
Well, we will soon find out if the Denver D has any heart. On both sides of the ball they will have to come together as a team. I would like to hear that they had a players only meeting.
October 22, 2008
6:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
kmeissner writes:
Boss is hurt after EVERY play. Everytime they mention a player being hurt on the field it's Boss. He's an above average player but he's always hurt. Time to move on...
Now having Champ out... is going to cause me to become an alcoholic. Bly can't cover a number 1 receiver and the defense is going to get torched. I can only hope that I'm wrong but all signs point to "screwed". I think the NFL should give us an advantage and let our cb's carry weapons of some kind until Champ gets back. Maybe bats so they can trip the receivers? Just a thought.
October 22, 2008
6:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
Broncos4Life1 writes:
So if Detroit gave up on Boss Bailey so easily why did Shanahan go after this guy so hard? Do you think that even the Lions knew something about his injury prone ways that they did'nt want to take a chance giving a ton of money to an injury waiting to happen kind of guy? Is Bowlen ever going to get off his butt and get a real GM in here so Shanahan can attempt to coach with his full attention? Two jobs and he has'nt shown much at either one the last couple of years, is someone going to accept responsibility in Dove Valley for this mess?
October 22, 2008
6:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
The_Man writes:
rdenver,
Yeah I can't wait until the Rockies lace them up again. Nothing like .400 baseball idiot!
October 22, 2008
6:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
notyouravg writes:
Mike Shanahan = John McCain .... one more year of the same old same old. Bronco faithful, take your team back! Write to Pat, let him, not the media know how you feel.
October 22, 2008
6:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
ifyem writes:
Who cares..Broncos stink as usual..RMN, ya think its about time to take this annoying story off of your homepage?
October 22, 2008
7:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
bjones73 writes:
Nice comment RD Denver -
Time to watch a AAA baseball team in the Big Leagues...with Big League ticket prices to boot...
Get off the football pages wuss...
October 22, 2008
7:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
Denver7 writes:
This is good for Shannahan. It will give him an excuse why it's not his fault. That should get him another two or three years. Bowlen isn't going to listen as long as there are rear ends in those seats. I'm sure he wants more but I bet he's willing to settle because there are a lot of places that can't even fill the seats. I'm sure he sees the glass as half full. The faithful Bronco fans deserve more.
October 22, 2008
7:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
Littleboyblue writes:
Does anyone know why the Shaw kid that we got from Okaland isn't playing? The guys we have up front now simply cannot beat their one on one assignments. It's not like we're getting double teamed, just plain beat up front. Linebackers are filling their gaps with the wrong shoulder for leverage, half the time they knock another Bronco off of the pile...then the running back slips out for a quick 10 yard gain. They are selfish, and there is absolutely no sense of team here. Cutler needs to be a leader and stop acting like an arrogant butt-face, and try to lead by play not talk so much. And please find a running game...is Torain ready?
October 22, 2008
7:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
dilligaf writes:
Dynamicdave writes:
"Man, that is some pretty bad news. You know the other teams are going to go after our corners. I hope Jack is up for it. Bly needs to step up his game. Heal and hurry back Champ. We are going to miss you in there. Boss just can't stay healthy. Winborn will be in there but he needs to play better then he did last night."
WOW is this something new? Teams have been going after our corners all year. How will this change things? Will this mean we will go from being 31st against the pass to last. I see some positive in these injuries. Since this season is shot anyway we can get guys like Mike Williams out there and get them some experience and see what he can do. Shanny also lets get Jarvis Moss out there some more and give him more experience and see for sure if he is going to make it. Heck if anything put him out there to replace Boss.
October 22, 2008
8:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
El_Braino writes:
Well -- there might be a silver lining here somewhere. Maybe with Jack Williams playing out there, the opposing offense will test all areas of the field and Bly won't get picked on so much. Maybe we see an increase in interceptions. I think our 3-4 experiment is done, or at least not as predominant because of our LB depth now. Jarvis Moss turned in a decent game as I saw him on more than one occasion tackling or at least in the middle of the play. I hope the Broncos get it together, because it was extremely hard to watch that Monday game sober...
October 22, 2008
8:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
philvysor writes:
"Turn Out the Lights the Party's Over!" Time for the Bronco fans to start saying it...... Wait till Next Year!
October 22, 2008
10:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
jugdish writes:
FORK. STICK. DONE.
Start studying the draft and free agency, folks.
Broncos should now play all the young dudes on D.
See what they can do and what you'll have for '09.
Start tinkering with that 3-4. Put Moss at OLB.
DE=Crowder/Kenny Peterson
NT=DeWayne Robertson/Marcus Thomas
DE=Marcus Thomas/Elvis Dumervil
OLB=Moss/Woodyard
MLB=Niko
MLB=Webster/Larsen
OLB=DJ Williams
CB=Jack Williams
CB=Dre Bly
SS=Roderick Rogers
FS=Josh Barrett
The "O" should experiment a bit with more wides and 2TE sets.
Right when Torain is ready he should start.
Get FB's Hillis and Larsen more involved. Block & screens.
Practice some smashmouth with Pittman and Torain.
Work on deep outs with Royal and Marshall.
Time to prepare for next year.
THE DRAFT.
Broncos will need to pick a leader at MLB to run the 3-4.
Maualuga and Laurenititis will be top 15 selections.
Will also need to draft a cornerback like Darius Butler.
Safeties and safeties and defensive linemen should go next.
Offense will need a possession WR, and young guard to groom.
FREE AGENCY
Defensively the team will need linemen. Guys who are high motor and can rotate in and out of a 3-4 DL set. Watch to see if a big NT is available. Need to pick blue collar physical overachievers.
Some good young LBs like Dansby and Vilma may be available. At CB it would be wise to look at Nnamdi Asomugha. That would be wise money spent as he would pair well with Champ and is not afraid to tackle. It'd hurt Al Davis, too. Safety is a huge need and the FA depth is shallow.
Offensively, RB is a need. So is interior OL depth. A 3rd WR and TE also needed. Would be great to see if Broncos can wrangle RB Laurence Maroney away from the Patriots. That marriage is on the rocks.
October 22, 2008
10:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
shawnraiders81 writes:
Wow guy's sorry to hear about the loss of both champ and boss, injures stink. If McFaddens turf toe was better I think we could have capped off the chargers a few weeks ago. But it happens for everyone in the NFL.
October 22, 2008
10:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
opus_mcfeely writes:
I'm thinking that that 7th round pick we got for Foxworth is going to prove far more valuable than having him here to fill in for a depleted secondary. That trade looks better and better...
October 22, 2008
10:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
shawnraiders81 writes:
LOL trust me Nnamdi Asomugha will not be leaving Oakland.
1) he is really in contract talks and has been in the offseason.
2) Franchise tag.
Come on guys, that would be like us Raider fans saying we should have "looked" at John Elway when he was a FA, the broncos would have franchised him anyway 1 and he would probably have never come to oakland, or players like Haynesworth for the titans, nice dream but not reality.
#21 will be in silver and black for a long time.
October 22, 2008
11:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
dilligaf, who is Mike Williams? I think you mean Jack? As for going after our corners, you're wrong. They went after our "corner". They never threw at Champ. Now they have "2" corners to go after.
philvysor, you are the biggest clown on this blog. Go back to Raidertown with the rest of the idiots.
jugdish, what are you smoking? We are still in 1st. You act like the season is over? Frustration is ok, but bandwagon talk is all I've been hearing from people like yourself and others. Stop the whining.
Littleboyblue, Torain is supposed to see some playing time in the Miami game.
October 22, 2008
11:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
EdVMorales writes:
At least we have the Nuggets and Avs! Go avs 3-3 with the new goalie!
October 22, 2008
11:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
shawnraiders81 writes:
Dynamicdave : Go back to Raidertown with the rest of the idiots.
Shawnraiders81: Dynamicdave, I am a Raider fan and enjoy talking football with some in this blog, as it is a few of the ones my work actually will let me on, all us Raider fans could be really mean after a loss like the one you guys just had, but I am here trying to talk football just for fun but calling fans of another teams idiots is just plain ignorant, yeah some Raider fans are stupid and so are some bronco fans, like the classy fans that tossed battieres at Raiders players like 10 years about on monday night.
Trust me we all have fans that are dumb. maybe your one of them.
October 22, 2008
noon
Suggest removal
philvysor writes:
Dynamicdave, you need to lick your wounds and admit the season is over for you and your team. Champ was the only tackler on the defense everyone else looks like they don't want to get hurt. As far as "The Boss" well lets call the Lions up and ask them why they let him go? He was a wash there and the lions sent their dirty laundry to your team. You call me a idiot, look in the mirror Donkey fan and wipe your tears its over.
October 22, 2008
12:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
spencerr writes:
opus,
I think that trade (Foxworth for a late draft pick) was to get rid of a locker room cancer. They were just trying to get what they could for him. He felt like he was never going to break into the starting lineup here because Bly and Champ were in front of him and both so highly acclaimed (though I think Bly is overrated). He was starting to make some noise. Not good to have guys like that in the locker room. Shanahan did many similar housecleanings throughout the season last year.
That said, it was sad to see his time here end like that. I've felt for a long time that it would be nice to eventually see him get in place as our second corner...or even as safety. In the old days, Braxton was an average corner...and when he started slowing down, he became an average safety. I think Foxworth would be the same type of guy.
October 22, 2008
12:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
shawnraiders81, you're one of the few Raiders fans that gets on the blog and said anything sensible (about the injuries). Most Raiders fans get on the blog and talk stupid smack, kind of like the idiot philvysor. He simply goes from story to story and copies and pastes. No creativity. The Raiders statement is a generalized thing. Hey, My ex was a Raiders fan, so no worries. As far as tossing batteries, yes, that was wrong. Or when a Raiders fan stabs a Chargers fan. Ignorance is bliss and I'm sure you will find people who are jerks, no matter what team they like. But when idiots like philvysor, write in just to taunt, I will exercise my right to verbally rip into him. He is expecting it, I'm sure. More important, he is deserving of it.
October 22, 2008
12:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
myerda00 writes:
GHE = Boss gone, Champ out 4 games, and Cutler reverting back to last year.
GHF = Play the youth. Hollis at FB, Larsen at LB, Williams CB, Rogers SS and Barrett FS.
Most issues are for bad tackling. Who is the best tackler on the team besides Champ? Yep thats right Koutouvides and Larsen.
Why not play them at LB?
Bandwagon is a little light right now because of the news and play but we had a great draft and CFA. Training camp showed the coaches that some need to develope so lets develope them ON THE FIELD.
We all knew this was a building year and just hoped for a wild card opportunity. So lets go after it with our YOUTH.
BTW, Jim Goodman is the GM and seems to work well with Mike.
October 22, 2008
12:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
truth22 writes:
Champ is the heart and soul of the defense. It's rare to see a defense ask as much from a corner, hence him pulling a groin.
His brother is a "Boss flop" that couldn't go one game without getting carted off the field.
October 22, 2008
12:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
shawnraiders81 writes:
Dynamicdave, Thanks I just like to talk about football, yeah I really really really dislike the broncos, and think Shanahan is a duffus, but I am a good sport, you kinda have to be when Al Davis is running the show, it can be a circus.
Yeah raiders fans can be dumb, like the guy stabbing the chargers fan, trust me we have a bunch of dumb people on the Raiders blog.
we all have fans that make us sad to have.
Anyway we all have injures, I hope when we play you guys again your health, just in case my team actually decides to show up and win a game. We have talent just no really leadership mixed with no WR's it could go either way.
October 22, 2008
12:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
shawnraiders81 writes:
I hope your team is *healthy* the next time we play
October 22, 2008
1:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
Cutler6 writes:
Stop with the bring Lynch back crap (that isn't going to improve our defense) we need playmakers not over the hill rah, rah guys. I say put Wodyard in for Baily and give him a shot, he is fast, played saftey in college and should be able to cover LB's on the strong side. Larsen puts forth alot of effort and I commend him for that however so did Ryan bowen for the Nuggets, nice to have but that type of player isn't going to turn around the fortunes of the broncos. Players, players, players. And by the way all of those who say fire Shannhan, I have no problem with that except nobody offers any fact based, tangiable alternative for Shanny. Please come with a solution not just a gripe. And if you use Cowher just because his one superbowl win has come more recently than Shanny's 2 Superbowl wins that isn't enough. If you look at the average wins for both coachs over thier tenure's as heqad coach, I will bet you will find Shanny averages more wins.
Now, I can by the arguement that Shanny may need to give up his GM responsabilities and just coach. That I can buy, but Shanny can't carry the ball and hold it for his players, and no amount of coaching is going to make a player concentrate harder when they hold onto the ball in a game.
October 22, 2008
2:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
chill134 writes:
two words: GAME OVER
October 22, 2008
2:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
dirkle writes:
Wishing Boss Bailey all the best, but truthfully he certainly managed to use up all his injury chits this year.
October 22, 2008
3:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
chill134, two words: "TOTAL MORON".
Cutler6, do you know anything about this Chad Jackson? They looked at him again at WR and may sign him. From what I've read he was injured a lot while with the Patriots. He tore his ACL and was not able to play a year later because of his knee. If he's healthy, he could do no worse then D. Jackson. We need to get rid of him.
dirkle, yeah, he was never healthy.
October 22, 2008
4:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
truth22 writes:
The AFC West is awful so the Broncos may back into the playoffs and LOSE the first game as always.
October 22, 2008
5:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dynamicdave writes:
truth22, hey, to even get to the playoffs would be an accomplishment, seeing as how young our team is. I believe we have the 2nd youngest team in the NFL. I think KC is #1. I'll be happy to get to the playoffs. After that, it's wide open, and hopefully, nobody else will be lost for the season.