Patrick Smyth, Executive Director of Media Relations ([email protected] / 303‐264‐5536) Rebecca Villanueva, Media Services Manager ([email protected] / 303‐264‐5598) Erich Schubert, Media Relations Coordinator ([email protected] / 303‐264‐5503)
DENVER BRONCOS QUOTES (4/24/12)
CORNERBACK CHAMP BAILEY
On S Brian Dawkins’ retirement “It’s bittersweet, because I look back at what he’s done, and he doesn’t have anything else to prove or anything like that. I think every player would love to go out on top. Who goes to the Pro Bowl in their last year and walks away from the game like that? Not a lot of people can do that. I’m happy for him. I would have loved to have had him back, but it’s all about what’s best for him and his family. I’m just happy that he was able to walk away with a smile on his face.”
On Dawkins citing playing with him as a highlight during his time in Denver “That’s one of my highlights. I was fortunate enough to play with [S] John Lynch. We all know what a special player he was, and I thought I would never play with a guy like Lynch again, and here comes Brian Dawkins. [They have] different personalities in some ways, but that same intensity. You can’t ask for better safeties to play with. Those two are the best to ever play the game. I was fortunate enough to get another one, and the last three years have been amazing with him.”
On what he learned from Dawkins “A lot of little things, like how to take care of yourself, which can become a big thing in your career, how to lead and what it takes to win. He’s been on a lot of winning teams, played in more playoff games than almost anybody. I really just kind of watched him and saw how he carried himself. He’s just a great person, a good person to know off the field.”
On the respect Dawkins commanded from younger players “Of course they listen. The thing is [whether] they’re going to take it in and really go by that throughout their careers. I know he rubbed off on a lot of people the right way. He never was negative about anything. He never got down on his teammates or anything. He pep‐talked when he had to, but he’s the ultimate teammate—somebody any player would be fortunate to have on their team.”
On his leadership role after Dawkins’ departure “It means I’m the old guy now. It [stinks], but I don’t think my role goes any higher as far as leadership. I’m going to be who I’m going to be. I’m going to lead regardless of whether he’s here or not, but I’ve learned a lot from him [about] the moments when you have to speak up and the moments when you should be quiet. He was good at that. I learned a lot about that, and I thank him for a lot of that, because if you play for a while, you’ve got to know when to speak up and when not to. That’s very important, especially with a lot of young guys in the locker room.”
On if Dawkins made him a more vocal leader “It just kind of happens. Everybody’s personality is different. Everybody knows I’m not a screamer, a yeller—well, not all the time, but I do find myself being more vocal, but it kind of happened more naturally. If you’re going to play in this game a long time, it’s going to naturally happen. It’s just going to happen.”
©2012 Denver Broncos Football Club. All rights reserved. The individual quotes cited in this document may be used for the purpose of news reporting and other fair uses as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Duplication or posting of this quote sheet, in its entirety, or any other use of this material which is not a fair use as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Denver Broncos Football Club. On Dawkins’ Hall of Fame credentials “A guy that’s played at a high level for as long as he has—I don’t think any safety has played as well as he has for as long as he has, and his numbers speak for themselves. He’s won a lot of games. He hasn’t been on a lot of losing teams. The guy’s a special player. There’s nobody like him. When you’re that unique, the Hall of Fame, they’ve got to notice that. There’s no doubt he’ll be in there.”
On Dawkins’ legacy “Everybody knows how hard he hits, the passion he brings to the game. Just playing with him, you get to know how good of a leader he is and how much he loves the guys around him. He pours his heart out on the field. That’s all I ask for from my teammates. To have a guy that you don’t have to worry about on the field with you, it was a special time that he was here.”
©2012 Denver Broncos Football Club. All rights reserved. The individual quotes cited in this document may be used for the purpose of news reporting and other fair uses as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Duplication or posting of this quote sheet, in its entirety, or any other use of this material which is not a fair use as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Denver Broncos Football Club.