Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Champ Bailey wasn't able to reel in his first interception as a member of the New Orleans Saints.

Bailey couldn't pry his No. 24 away from Saints cornerback Corey White -- the number Bailey has worn throughout his 15-year career with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos.

But Bailey said it's no big deal. He didn't even bother to make White an offer for the number. He was content to take Malcolm Jenkins' old No. 27 instead.

"I'm not the one to get attached to anything like that. It's just a number. I'll make the number I have look like something," Bailey said. "I just asked him if he was attached to it. He was, and I just gotta live with it. I wasn't going to make him an offer or anything like that. I'm not paying for anything. I think if the roles were reversed, I probably would've considered it, but he didn't want to. It's his own decision."

White, a third-year pro, will have to work even harder to hang on to his starting job. White took over as the Saints' No. 2 cornerback late last season after veteran Jabari Greer was injured. White experienced some highs and lows on the job, but he showed some promise as a physical corner.

However, the Saints added Bailey in free agency. They have veteran Patrick Robinson returning from a knee injury that sidelined him all of last season. Second-year pro Rod Sweeting is expected to make that Year 2 leap, among other young contenders. And they drafted big cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste in the second round.

It could be the deepest and most compelling camp battle for playing time. And the competitive juices among the defensive backs are already flowing.

Make sure you have your roster handy to keep track of who's who.

Champ Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from Corey White - ESPN

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Champ Bailey hmmmm recovery from the foot injury that should have had him on IR is more important. If he does not recover from it 100% then what number he wears is of little importance.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Well, I had high hopes for White due to his infrequent flashes, but that seems to be all he's got and I don't think he's done anything to distinguish that number for himself so he's just setting himself up for not getting the full monty of training from Champ. Guess he thinks he's all that. Better prove it this year is all I got to say.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

It's not the number that matters. It's the man wearing the number that matters.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Completely disagree. Champ is a professional and I'm sure he's not gonna hold a grudge against the kid for not giving up his number. If he does then Bailey can shove it up his ass.

BTW, do you realize that Corey White out-performed Greer after Greer went down? Granted its PFF stats so take it with a grain of salt.

And also, making the team gives a player the right to wear a number. New additions don't have the right to take a number from a guy already on the team. That's why its called a team.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

I completely forgot about Sweeting.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

The only person White outperformed was the injured Patrick Robinson. Nobody gives a crap about whatever PFF is. Everytime I see a reference to that PFF it says something completely absurd. I'm convinced it's run by teenage girls. But I digress. White should relinquish his number to someone who was actually worth a crap at one point in his career. I think it's a bit cheesy that he's attached to a number after three years and zero achievements.

Cheesy, but not exactly earth shattering news. They can wear 100 for all I care, as long as they pick it up and play well.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

zero achievements? i would not go that far.

White has done well enough to stick with the club and has improved every year in pass coverage. is he a finished product? i hope not or he can be replaced down the road. sweeting is not a threat at this point.

Rod has some coaching needs but he is very smart and will keep the play in front of him and minimize the damage. White takes more risk and that leads to giving up position.

one draft and a FA added does not make the CB a deep talented group. It has made them better but in no way should the saints be happy with DB group as a whole. plenty of room for upgrading if players peek out.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Hey, at least nobody embarrassed themselves.

Whitehurst loses number via arm wrestling with punter | ProFootballTalk

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

White should have offered him the number. There's these things called humility and respect. Champ Bailey is a future Hall of Famer. I like to believe that if Deion Sanders had been # 24 instead of # 21 when he got to Washington in 2000, then Champ would have given the number. Obviously I don't have any way of knowing that, but I suspect that's how it would have happened.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

I would have given up the number. Bailey has alot to offer...
Then again I could really care less

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Being on the team is not an on field achievement. I can give you a long list of guys who "achieved" things if that's your criteria.

Jim Everett, Heath Shuler, Jason David, Jonathan Sullivan, Danny Woeful (yes, I meant to say that), Sedrick Ellis.... and on we could go.

I see no proof of White getting better in coverage. We just have a few White supporters saying that he's improving. If anyone can give me an example that would be something new.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Perhaps the coaches should just list the players in order of how good they are and let them choose their numbers every year.

If Champ wants Keenan Lewis's number, should he get it?
If Jairus Byrd wants Vaccaro's number, should he get it?
If Brandin Cooks wants Stills' number, should he get it?

I saw White make numerous plays last year, especially at nickle. He sure looked like he was improving to me.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

And if anybody could give me an example of why they believe he's so terrible that didn't involve his first game-and-a-half as a starting corner, that would REALLY be something new.

Keenan Lewis struggled early in his career, and a lot more than White. By his third season, he had turned it completely around, But still, you know what his nickname in Pittsburgh was? "The Bust". Right up until he left in free agency. Hell, some of them still think he sucks. Players at certain positions, CB being one of them, get labeled by certain fans and no matter how well they play they still have that label. No matter how misplaced it is. The same people who bash White will have endless praise for Jabari Greer, and yeah, Greer earned respect, but I will tell you right now that White straight-up played better than Greer last year. Period.

Also, putting Jim Everett's name along with that bunch of players you listed is 100% full-on ignorant.

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

I feel good about the depth at corner. P Rob has the opportunity to show coaches he is over the hump and can contribute. If not then I feel good about White........he could be this years sleeper.
The players that we get back from IR will boost our performance immediately. :bng:

Re: Bailey unable to intercept No. 24 from White
 

Good for Corey. Keep your number.