If you were arguably the best player in the NFL at your position, and you were in the prime of your career, and you had great expectations about your team's chance for success, and for the most part, you did not see that level of play materialize... then you'd know what it feels like to be Champ Bailey.

More or less, no ordinary player is going to criticize any offseason moves made by his team. Then again, Bailey is no ordinary Broncos player. He is extraordinary, and his skill with his hands and feet allow the words coming out of his mouth to be heard.

Pretty much everybody knows complaining about personnel moves with the Broncos, is, in essence, showing displeasure with head coach Mike Shanahan. That's a line that most players will not cross. However, most players do not have a $63 million contract like Bailey does. He is playing by a different set of rules and his play on the field merits that lone voice of dissent within the organizational structure.

There are plenty of people around here who think letting Jason Elam sign with Atlanta was an error in judgment and you can count Bailey among them. He went so far as to say that he would not be happy if the team does not have a real solution to replacing him during camp. That seems unlikely. The two top prospects are Olindo Mare, who was 10-17 on field goal attempts last year, though remains a free agent. The incumbent kicker, Matt Prater, has one career regular season field goal to his credit--or three less than the amount of game-winning kicks Elam had in 2007. I think Bailey makes a lot of sense.

One last thought: the Broncos offered Keary Colbert the same amount of money as Elam. Of those two, if you could pick one, who would you rather have on this team?

I think I know which way most of you are leaning.

Have a great day!

-"z"