NFL rumors: Broncos plan to ask Champ Bailey to take a pay cut
By Josh Sanchez
The Denver Broncos are coming off of a disappointing performance in Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks, so now they will need to address their weaknesses and find out where it all went wrong.
While the Seahawks’ stout defense deserves much of the credit, there is no denying the team could use some help on the defensive side of the ball.
Before they can do that, however, they will need to clear up some cap space and that will begin by asking veteran defensive back Champ Bailey to take a pay cut. Bailey, who was healthy enough to play in just five games last season, is set to make a $9 million base salary in 2014 along with a $1 million roster bonus on March 15.
Denver seems willing to work things out with Bailey, but he will likely have to agree to take less money in order to remain with the team.
“We’re still in the process of talking about that,” Broncos general manager John Elway said at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, via ESPN.com. “I’m going to sit down with Champ and find out what he wants to do and go from there.”
Bailey has had a spectacular career, but everyone knows they will begin to slow down at some point.
If Bailey is aware of his decline, he should have no trouble taking less money to help his team out and potentially return to the Super Bowl one final time before calling it a career.