As the Denver Broncos rest and prepare for the postseason during their week off, Pat Surtain II released another episode of his Closed On Sundays Podcast, which he hosts alongside Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold.
The two cornerbacks had Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey as a special guest on their podcast. Bailey, who played 15 seasons in the NFL with Washington and Denver, made sure to give Surtain II his flowers right off the bat.
Hall Of Famer Champ Bailey Has High Praise For Broncos CB Pat Surtain II
There’s always been a connection between the two players
The history between Bailey and Surtain II is unique not only because they both play cornerback, but also because they were both top-10 draft picks who have had a significant impact on the Broncos organization.
“The mutual connection is he plays corner right, [was a] high draft pick [was drafted] to my old team, so [there’s] a natural connection,” Bailey said on the Closed On Sundays podcast.
Both are also in some of the same activities off the field. At the same time, Bailey is familiar with Surtain II, as he played with and against his father.
“We also work with player culture, with our boy Gaby, who takes care of us with some off the field stuff, and I played against his Dad [and played] in the Pro Bowl with his Dad, so there’s always been a connection there on that level,” Bailey added.
Bailey is one of Surtain II’s biggest supporters
As someone who consistently keeps up with Surtain II, Bailey has high expectations for the fifth-year cornerback. Bailey has felt this way about him ever since the Broncos drafted him ninth overall out of Alabama in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, which was before he even played a snap for Denver.
“I’m probably his biggest fan, but I told people when he got drafted, this kid could be a hall of famer, and man, he is on that path, so he’s making me look like I know what I’m talking about,” Bailey said later in the episode.
The Hall of Famer appreciates how Surtain II plays the game
Being an elite cornerback in the NFL is a challenging task for many players. Still, Surtain II has exceeded expectations so far in his career, which is a big reason why Bailey respects how he plays.
“I admire his game, the way he approaches it, the consistency because it’s hard to be consistent outside [the] numbers and y’all both know when guys are doing it well, you pat them on the back no matter what, whether they’re on your team or not,” Bailey said on the Closed On Sundays podcast.
Bailey’s approval of the cornerback, who already has four Pro Bowl nods, explains why Surtain II will be one of the Broncos’ most important players in the postseason, as he will have the opportunity to help lead a defense that can potentially help Denver win its fourth Super Bowl.
