3 strangest players to ever play in a New Orleans Saints jersey

2. Champ Bailey

Champ Bailey is considered by some the best cornerback of all time. He started his career with Washington, and he was traded to the Denver Broncos in one of the biggest trades in NFL history (one-for-one for Clinton Portis). He would spend the next 10 seasons in Denver before signing a two-year deal with New Orleans worth $7 million in 2014.

Most won’t remember Bailey’s time with the Saints because it technically didn’t exist. He was unable to make the final roster out of training camp. He was 36 years old at the time, and it seemed like he could lock on with some team. However, he decided to retire instead of holding onto his career.

Bailey lost out on a spot that undrafted free agent Brian Dixon took. He was known as one-half of the first set of twins to play on the same team since the AFL-NFL merger. It’s an interesting story, but it seems like the Saints could have found a role for Bailey. He was a veteran in the locker room for a defense that needed one.

The Saints’ defense allowed more than 4,000 yards passing that season. Maybe Bailey had lost a step, and he couldn’t have made it better. It’s hard to believe he would have made it worse. Heck, having Bailey on the field in nickel and dime downs would be like having an extra coach up close and personal.