Missing Champ Bailey...

[SKINSnCANES]

Originally Posted by smootsmack

I think Springs will see a revival in his career now that he's playing back in his hometown.

well, it is his home town, but he did grow up here as a cowboys fan becuase of his dad... we'll have to make sure he got rid of those feelings.

[BossHog]

Truth is most teams' playoff contentions hinge on the fact that one or two franchise caliber players stay in the lineup throughout the season. Injuries are part of the game. And the best teams have quality depth and great coaches. Where do we stand? As far as Bobby Taylor is concerned, his contract is so front loaded we probably wouldn't have been able to afford him. Winfield on the other hand...

[Redskins_P]

Champ Bailey did not wanna be here. You could tell throughout the whole season last year. As much as I miss him, we're better off without him. We have more cap room, a great rb, and two quality corners. Champ wanted outrageous money and we couldn't give it to him.

[Carnage]

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the league Charles Woodson is demanding to be the highest paid CB in the league (and by extension of all time) and Chris McCalister is going to have to settle for the franchise tag of 8 Million dollars. It seems impossible for a team to tie up this much cap room for a player who doesn't stop the run or pressure the QB. All cbs get beat. I think that we may be ahead of the curve by trying to field established veterans at reasonable rates.

[Redskins_P]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/traini...ohn&id=1848424

"You've got a guy in Portis who's done a lot of great things on the field, but you don't know if he's going to last as long as I am" Bailey said. "It's hard to find corners or at least one great one. When you've got a good corner, you've got a good defense. I hope not to dissapoint him"

Uhhhh....last time I checked our defense sucked last year even with Champ.

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by Redskins_P

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/traini...ohn&id=1848424

"You've got a guy in Portis who's done a lot of great things on the field, but you don't know if he's going to last as long as I am" Bailey said. "It's hard to find corners or at least one great one. When you've got a good corner, you've got a good defense. I hope not to dissapoint him"

Uhhhh....last time I checked our defense sucked last year even with Champ.

LOL! Exactly! I guess he doesn't count last year in that statement, because the coaching was so bad. Maybe he should have said, "when you've got a good corner and a good defensive coordinator, you've got a good defense."

I'm not overly worried about Champ's departure. Springs isn't in his class, but he's a solid replacement, and unlike Champ, Springs is overjoyed to be here at home in Washington. Springs also brings a positive energy and vocal component as a leader that Champ definitely lacked.

Last year at this time, I was one of the biggest supporters for re-signing Champ to a long-term deal. But after I watched Champ in training camp last year, during his interviews, and just his overall body language when he discussed his contract situation, it was apparent that he was tired of Washington and was ready to move on. There was no urgency on his part to get a deal done, and he pretty much seemed to not care one bit about being a Redskin anymore. The more apparent that became as the year wore on, the less concerned I was if the Skins were unable to sign him.

The bottom line is, Champ didn't want to be a Redskin anymore, and that's all I need to know to be at peace with his departure. Too many other positive things are happening with this team for me to worry about one guy who isn't here anymore. I hope he enjoys the view from afar as Gibbs leads the Redskins back to respectability, and ultimately, victory.

[davy]

Champ who?

[Skins fan 44]

Our defensee WILL be fine. As bad a the coaching was last year we fought hard and could of beat both Super Bowl teams instead on only Denver. This year with better coaching the D will be in the top 10. Our d-line is not that bad. LBs are better. Safties are better with Talyor back there. So our CBs might of suffered a little the rest will help out and put less pressure on the CBs. I also am sure that we have some sleepers that will have a suprise season. Just you wait and see. And about Champ, sorry you are going to miss great things. No I am not sorry but I am sure he will be.

[EEich]

Champ didn't play up to his reputation last year. He clearly looked at times like he didn't want to be here. I can't blame him considering the coaching staff, but I'm glad we didn't pay him what he wanted, and I'm thrilled to have Portis. I think Smoot and Springs will hold up fine.

[Gmanc711]

I was just reading on ESPN.com a quote from Champ Bailey about the trade. " You've got a guy in Portis who has done alot of great things on the feild, but you dont know if hes gonna last as long as I am. Its hard to find Corners, or at least a great one. When You've got a good corner, you've got a good defense." - Broncos DB Champ Bailey.

EASSSY Champ, I dont have a problem with that quote until he says , when you've got a good cornder, you've got a good defense. Please. I think all this corner-back stuff is overratted. I will take 1500 yards from Portis over having Bailey here any day of the week. His presence is not going to change our defense as a whole, not one bit. Having Portis, a good running back on offense, is the key to having a good offense. Sorry, Champ, but our defense sucked last year, and you were on our team. One position alone will not make a defense good. I feel about a 100 times better going in with what we have, personel wise, than I did last year defensivley. That dosent even include the coaching factor. I'm glad we have Portis on our team.

[itvnetop]

Reading the article actually made me respect Champ a little more... whether he really meant that he wanted to stay in Washington is something we'll never know, but I understand a little more where he's coming from. Guys, we've grown up being Skins fans- been through all of the ups and downs. Champ went to UGA and was drafted during the Norv years. He went through the a multitude of defensive coordinators during his years here- how can we expect him to have the same passion for the Skins when he doesn't even know the stability of a single defensive scheme? His entire career here, he not only went through different coordinators, but also different players around him (moreso than most teams' turnover ratio), as well as different playbooks nearly every year. The context from what we know about Redskins tradition and history was probably never seen from Champ's perspective.

Yes, LaVar went through the same things and he's stayed loyal to the Skins. But let's not be quick to forget the phat contract extension he received that bolstered his loyalty a little bit to. Yes, we also gave Champ a more than fair offer... but compare what Denver offerred him and tell me it's not a significant difference. We're not talking pennies- he was offerred way more money for less years. In this case, the system worked for him b/c his agent/himself knew what he could fetch on the open market. The Skins had a choice to make in deciding who to give franchise money to- and it went to LA. I'm not saying it was wrong (in fact, I'm happy we kept LaVar), but if Champ requires the same amount more power to him if he gets it.

I do sense that he really has more of a sense of loyalty a stronger sense to win than most athletes- the article mentioned him saying that he was real sad to see the Skins let Davis and Johnson go. The thing that caught me was that he wasn't even down to get traded straight up for LaDainian Tomlinson (even though that's an awesome trade)... but he saw a chance to win in Denver and that's why he went there. He was tired of losing in DC. So are the fans right? But the difference is- we, as fans, know what Gibbs brings to the table after so many years of losing... Champ was just tired of seeing wholesale changes every year and continuing to lose as a player on the field.

Sorry if I'm sounding like i'm trying to hard to defend him- in all honesty we're a much better team after the trade for Portis, drafting Taylor, the FA pickups, and the new coaching additions. But I remember him being one of my favorite players while he was a Skin, never complaining during the offseason upheavals, during the season, and most importantly always putting himself out on the field. BTW- every corner in this league gets burned at one point or another... you put your best corner on the best wideout every game and it's going to happen eventually. Champ's still the man at his position though.

[]<ing]

Originally Posted by itvnetop

BTW- every corner in this league gets burned at one point or another... you put your best corner on the best wideout every game and it's going to happen eventually. Champ's still the man at his position though.

Of course. I wasn't trying to say that BECAUSE he got burnt he sucks. As I said, I'd rather have him on my team than not. That being said, he got burned REPEATEDLY last year -- and by repeatedly, I mean time after time after time.

Just think for a moment about what I said regarding the Dolphins game.

[BleedBurgundy]

Am I the only one who remembers Champ not exactly being a tackling machine? I know that there are a lot of corners out there that are not enamored with hitting people but he was too Deion-esque for my tastes. I'm curious if anyone knows how Springs is against the run? Champ was horrible in that regard.

[Redskins_P]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

Am I the only one who remembers Champ not exactly being a tackling machine? I know that there are a lot of corners out there that are not enamored with hitting people but he was too Deion-esque for my tastes. I'm curious if anyone knows how Springs is against the run? Champ was horrible in that regard.

From what I heard Springs is supposed to be pretty good against the run. He's got good size and he's physical. Our corners will be fine. I'm expecting Smoot to have a good year and Springs, let's hope can stay healthy and be effective.

[That Guy]

LT for champ isn't an awesome trade at all from champ's perspective... and being on a losing team means more change, and less chance to settle down and shine, which in turn, means his next big check wont be so hot.