By The Associated Press
Thanks to Champ Bailey and Monday night microphones, the Kansas City Chiefs should be well motivated for their next game against the Broncos.
As the Broncos were rolling to a 30-10 rout over their AFC West rival, the Chiefs learned Bailey accused them on national television of not even playing hard.
“The way they played up there in Kansas City, it ain’t the same, though,” said Bailey, who was miked by ABC.
Speaking to teammates on the Denver bench after the Broncos had taken control of the game in the first half, Bailey was heard to say: “They’re playing a little different. They’re not playing as hard. I ain’t going to relax, though.”
The Chiefs beat Denver last year in Kansas City 45-17, dominating the Broncos almost as thoroughly as they were dominated Monday night. They will face the Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 4.
“I know this – none of our players said Champ Bailey didn’t play hard when we beat them by three touchdowns last year out here,” coach Dick Vermeil said Tuesday. “Eddie Kennison (Chiefs receiver) didn’t say that Champ Bailey was not playing hard.”
Vermeil tried to downplay Bailey’s remarks, but clearly was irritated. “That’s why I don’t allow players to be miked. I don’t know what (Bailey) was referring to. That’s a player’s opinion,” he said.
An experienced broadcaster himself, Vermeil said he always has been against miking players.
“I just think the broadcast ought to be done by the guys in the booth,” he said. “That’s what they’re professionally trained to do. I just won’t put one of my players in that position.
“Champ Bailey’s a fine kid, respected by everybody in the league, but you put a mike on him, you never know what you’re going to hear.”
Jets: With starting quarterback Chad Pennington and backup Jay Fiedler sidelined by shoulder injuries in a span of seven plays during Sunday’s overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Vinny Testaverde, 41, was signed likely to back up untested Brooks Bollinger.
“Right now, Vinny is not starting, he is not running out of the tunnel in Baltimore being the starter,” coach Herm Edwards said. “He is going to be standing next to me. Brooks is starting. From there, we will see.”
Bollinger has thrown nine passes in his career, all against the Arizona Cardinals in a victory last season when Pennington sat out. Testaverde, who led the Jets to the 1998 AFC title game and was with the Dallas Cowboys in 2004, was not in an NFL training camp this summer.
“We’re doing a little scrambling, the two-minute drill,” Edwards said. “If something happens to Brooksie, who else is going to play? You can’t cancel.”
Patriots: Safety Rodney Harrison was placed on injured reserve because of torn ligaments in his left knee.
Agent Steve Feldman said Harrison, the team’s leading tackler the past two seasons, would have surgery in four to six weeks for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament.
The Patriots also waived linebacker Wesly Mallard.
49ers: Receiver Rashaun Woods was placed on injured reserve because of a thumb injury.
Lions: Cornerback Fernando Bryant is out for the season with a separated right shoulder.
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