FanHouse Boss Bailey

Two days ago, the Broncos were 4-2, featured one of the best all-around offenses in the NFL, and were primed to take a two-game lead over the Chargers in the AFC West. All they needed to do was beat a reeling Patriots outfit. Instead, Denver got their ass handed to them, and that's putting it politely.

Yesterday, cornerback Champ Bailey suggested the Broncos' defense lacked a "sense of urgency," which is ironic since he'll be out for the next four to six weeks with a torn groin muscle. That he'll return in a month and a half is the good news coming out of Denver.

Champ's brother, linebacker Boss Bailey, is done for the season -- he needs knee surgery -- as is backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey, who briefly filled in for Jay Cutler on Monday night. Turns out, he was in there long enough to reinjure his right throwing elbow, which had bothered him since the preseason.

So now, in addition to no experienced backup behind Cutler, the Broncos' already atrocious defense just got worse:

The Denver Broncos have signed free agent linebacker Boss Bailey, formerly of the Detroit Lions, to a free agent contract. The deal unites him with his brother, Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that it's a five-year, $17.5 million deal that includes a $4.3 million signing bonus and $8 million over the first two years of the contract. I'm a big fan of both Bailey brothers, but I can't help but think that's a little too much money to guarantee Boss, an undeniably talented player but one whose knee problems raise questions about his long-term viability.

Still, Bailey will be a solid addition at linebacker for the Broncos if he can stay healthy. When his knees aren't bothering him he's one of the fastest linebackers in the NFL. He's expected to start on the strong side, and with D.J. Williams starting on the weak side, the Broncos will have the fastest pair of outside linebackers in the league.

As for trivia about these two brothers, I tried to find a definitive list of brothers who have been NFL teammates, but I couldn't. Instead, you'll have to settle for this bit of trivia: Boss's real name is Rodney, and Champ's real name is Roland.

This is one of the crazier times of the year in the NFL. Media and fans posit all manners of outlandish signings, trades and draft maneuvers without any regard to salary cap, combines or workouts. Everything is done with rose colored glasses and must be taken with an enormous grain of salt. Even with all of that in mind, Woody Paige's plans for the Denver Broncos still boggle the mind.

Given him credit for specificity. He doesn't say the Broncos need this type of player or that type. No, Woody is as specific as can be. He says Denver should trade down in the first round and up in the second round and gives you the exact players that the team should be drafting in each of the first four rounds. It's not even worth discussing the players, except to say that opining about the draft position of players at this point is incredibly silly.

That's just the draft. In free agency, the Broncos are to improve the offense by signing Max Starks to replace Matt Lepsis and Justin Gage or Bryant Johnson to play receiver. They'll mix with the returning Travis Henry and Javon Walker, neither of whom would take a pay cut. And on defense, they'll sign Boss Bailey and Corey Williams.

Oh yeah, they'll sign Lance Briggs too.