Denver Broncos cornerback and 15-year veteran Champ Bailey wants to return next season, even if that means a move to safety.
The 12-time Pro Bowl selection had said before his first Super Bowl — a painful 43-8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks — that retirement might be an option.
“I’m not done playing football,” Bailey said, via the Denver Post. “So I feel like I’m going to give myself another shot next year.” Relocating to safety is “something I’d definitely look into … if it makes sense.”
Bailey will turn 36 in June and appeared in just five regular-season games last season because of injuries.
In the Super Bowl, Bailey was beaten soundly by Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin on an early third-down conversion that went for 37 yards, and Baldwin beat him again in the fourth quarter to keep a Seahawks drive going.
Bailey would likely have to take a substantial pay cut to return. He will carry a salary-cap hit of $10 million next season.