Cornerback Champ Bailey was informed he will be released by the Denver Broncos before he is due a $1 million roster bonus on March 15.
Releasing Bailey would save the Broncos $9 million against the 2014 salary cap and put the veteran on the free agent market for the first time in his 15-year career. Bailey said he was not offered a pay cut or adjusted contract.
Bailey said recently he wanted to return next season, even if that meant a move to safety. The 12-time Pro Bowl selection and seven-time All-Pro had said before his first Super Bowl — a painful 43-8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks — that retirement might be an option.
Bailey will turn 36 in June and appeared in just five regular-season games last season because of injuries.
He was beaten soundly in man coverage by Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin on two big plays.
There had been plenty of conjecture that Bailey might call it a career, but he said last month he has every intention of playing in 2014.
“You don’t want to think about that right now,” Bailey said about looking toward the future. “I think it’s obvious for everybody in this (Broncos) locker room. Most people in this locker room have to deal with something coming up. You deal with it when you can. I don’t control anything – I’m under contract for another year, so I’m not concerned with what’s going on, really.”
Now that Bailey is not under contract, he could reconsider. There have been exceptions, including Darrell Green of the Redskins and Charles Woodson, who is one year older than Bailey but played well for the Oakland Raiders last season, but Bailey said during Super Bowl week that cornerback isn’t a position conducive to longevity.
Bailey was drafted seventh overall and spent five seasons with the Washington Redskins before he was dealt to Denver for running back Clinton Portis.