Age: 27
7th
season in pro football, 2nd with Broncos
College: Georgia
Height: 6’0” Weight: 192
Prelude:
A consensus All-American
cornerback in 1998, Bailey starred on both offense and defense in college and
was chosen by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the ’99 NFL draft
(seventh overall). He moved directly into the starting lineup and intercepted
five passes. Tough and smart, and with ideal size and speed, he quickly became
established as an elite player at his position and in 2000 was named to the Pro
Bowl for the first of eight consecutive seasons in addition to receiving
first-team All-NFC recognition. In 2004, after five years in Washington, he was
dealt to Denver in a blockbuster trade for RB Clinton Portis and achieved
consensus first-team All-NFL honors for the first time.
2005 Season Summary
Appeared in 14
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 8 [4, tied with Nathan Vasher]
Most
interceptions, game – 1 on eight occasions
Int. return
yards – 139 [8]
Most int.
return yards, game – 65 (on 1 int.) at Dallas 11/24
Int. TDs – 2
[1, tied with four others]
Sacks – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Forced
fumbles – 1
Tackles – 59
Assists – 5
Scoring
TDs – 2
Points – 12
Postseason: 2 G
Interceptions
– 1
Int. return
yards – 100
Sacks – 0
TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
1st
team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Broncos went 13-3
to finish first in the AFC West. Won AFC Divisional playoff over New England
Patriots (27-13). Lost AFC Championship to Pittsburgh Steelers (34-17).
Aftermath:
Bailey followed
up in 2006 by leading the NFL in both interceptions (10) and interception
return yards (162) and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection for the
third straight year. With teams not throwing in his direction, his interception
total dropped to three in ’07, but he still achieved Pro Bowl recognition.
Injuries cost Bailey seven games in 2008 but he bounced back in ’09 to return
to the Pro Bowl for another four straight years. Even with declining skills, he
was still a formidable cover corner well into his 30s. A foot injury limited
Bailey to five games in 2013, although he returned to play in the postseason,
including the Super Bowl loss to Seattle that was his last game with the
Broncos. He was released following the season, signed with New Orleans, but
failed to make the team and retired. Overall, Bailey played for 15 years, ten
of them with Denver, and intercepted 52 passes, 34 as a member of the Broncos, four
of which he returned for touchdowns. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL
selection three times, received at least some first-team recognition after
three other seasons, and was selected to the Pro Bowl 12 times, a record for a
cornerback. He was named to the All-2000s Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His brother Rodney “Boss” Bailey also played in the NFL with the Lions and
Broncos.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
