The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Just to save you some time:

AFC int leaders:

Woodson 8
Wesley
McCree
Clements
Surtain tied with 6

NFC int leaders:

Kelly 8
Sharper 7
Parrish 7
Brooks 5
Tongue 5

In fact - Smoot had 4 and even Ohalete had the same number as Champ - 3

I am new to NFL football (and football in general) and I started following it 'cause I'm a Gatorskin and basically a fan of Spurrier. (He 'introduced' me to the game.) Anyway here's my two cents about the situation with Champ Bailey.

I agree, from what I saw last season, that Champ wasn't the best CB in the league, much less one of the best defensive players in NFL. Heck, he wasn't even the best defensive player in the team, one of the best but not the best. If you've to look for the best defensive player in the team, I'd go with Lavar but lets not open another debate there.

So what is all this ruckus about? Champ's argument seems to be entirely based on his 3 Pro Bowls and his best (I'd say near-best) performance in the team (which has genuinely been one of the top defenses). Even great players blow assignments and miss. They're after all human. But what I'm worried about is that Champ has not performed at the highest level of his abilities. When I say this I believe he has the ability to become the best CB in the league and one of the best defensive players in the league and so the whole argument is relative. I wonder if he has been nursing this grudge for a long time. He has talked too much about not letting this affect his performance and this makes me wonder how much damage was done in the past seasons because of this.

How much of this publicity is posturing? Did you notice that while Champ blows hot and cold (more like whine and whine), his agent is so silent and appears fussy about the whole thing? I wonder if it is all orchestrated. I don't know much about cap issues and learnt a lot from these posts but what really surprises me is how much of dirty linen of negotiations is being washed in the public, particularly the article in Times (http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20030820-113904-6152r.htm). Is Champ trying to conduct his negotiations in public or is it merely the craze of football in DC? I don't think it is the latter, though, I wonder what would be the fate of Ramsey's contract if negotiations are conducted so much in public?

Personally, I think it is very dangerous for a team to recognize an "elite" player among the team. It can never do any good. But even if they were to recognize an "elite" player in the team, I think setting the level of standard at the performance-level of Champ Bailey is totally ridiculous. He is neither the best player nor is he the absolute fan favorite (of course we like him but you know what I mean). He has to give a lot more for the team and for the fans even if he gets paid so much.

If the "autograph hounds" are any indication, Champ is easily in the top two. Only Lavar commands more of a following.

I think virtually every corner gets burned. Again, Champ did not get into the pro-bowl on good looks and personality, but from his playing. Teams that play in zone defenses get more INTs. Champ doesn't get the ball thrown his way very often so he is not getting lots of interceptions.

Does this mean its a good idea for him to whine at every opportunity? No, nor does it mean he should be paid as if he's Ray Lewis. But again, he is pretty darn valuable and is worth being paid as if he is among the elite corners. Hopefully we have the money to do this. If not, oh well, we will suffer some.

I would keep him. Give him a good contract but not that big. He should his old Champ Bailey skills against the Ravens. I hope he keeps this up. I want to see consistant, solid, and impressive performance. I like Champ but I hope he doesn't cut off negotiations. I also hope LaVar doesn't have problems when we negotiate with him. He will probably ask for a huge contract (bigger than Champ's). I get nervous about those sort of things.