When the Denver Broncos began their voluntary offseason conditioning program today, cornerback Champ Bailey was there. He noticed a lot of teammates who weren’t.
“I noticed not as many guys are here as normal. I guess with a lot of guys being restricted, and new guys coming in, not everyone’s going to be here,” Bailey told the Denver Post. “That’s just another thing we have to deal with.”
Among the players not there were restricted free agents Kyle Orton, Elvis Dumervil, Brandon Marshall, Chris Kuper and Tony Scheffler. It’s not surprising that a player without a contract would decide not to participate in voluntary workouts, although Orton has said he plans to attend after he gets back from the NFL Players’ Association meetings in Hawaii.
Bailey said he’s been in touch with Orton and Dumervil and knows they’re staying in shape. He also said he’s planning to call Marshall, who is not expected to be back with the Broncos in 2010.
For Bailey, who just got a $3 million bonus as part of a whopping $26.1 million he’s making combined in 2009 and 2010, he says he realizes the voluntary workouts are part of the job. Even if they’re not a part of the job he particularly enjoys.
“Honestly man, it starts way too early. I think our first game is what, September?” Bailey told the Post. “It is what it is, though. They pay me a lot of money to come here and work out with these guys though, so I’m going to be here.”