Former Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey agreed to a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints on Friday.
The deal has a maximum value of $7 million. It has a signing bonus and guaranteed money in the first year. The Saints entered Friday under the salary cap by $2 million, according to ESPN. That includes the $1.4 million qualifying offer that they gave to restricted free agent Rafael Bush, who could go to the Atlanta Falcons.
''I have a little more to my game, I believe, especially mentally,'' Bailey said on the Saints website. ''I can see things a lot easier, a lot of things come up that I've had experience with. That only helps your game. I'm using that to my advantage as much as possible because I know how much you've got to be mentally ready for this, as well as physically ready. I just like the situation I'm going into because I know these guys are going to be hungry.''
Bailey was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1999. He played for Washington for five years and played with the Broncos for the last 10 years. He has made three All-Pro teams and gone to 12 Pro Bowls. The 12 Pro Bowl appearances are second most among defensive players in NFL history, trailing only Reggie White, who had 13 Pro Bowl appearances. Last year he missed 11 games due to a left foot sprain. In his career Bailey has 54 interceptions and 204 defended passes, which is the most among active players, according to the Associated Press. He was on the NFL’s All-Decade team for 2000-2009.
Bailey will be competing against Keenan Lewis, the Saints number one cornerback, for a starting spot.