Broncos safety John Lynch says he is playing with the NFL’s defensive player of the year.
Lynch knows what it takes to win the award. As a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Lynch played alongside Warren Sapp, the 1999 winner, and Derrick Brooks, who won the award in 2002. But according to Lynch, those two – and the rest of the league – have nothing on a Denver teammate.
“My vote would go to Champ Bailey,” Lynch said. “He is the most complete defensive player I’ve played with, and I’ve played with some good ones. I see it firsthand. Champ is having that type of the season. He’s playing as well as anyone in the league.”
Bailey is a strong candidate for the award, which will be voted on by the media and announced Jan. 7. The only Bronco to win the award was linebacker Randy Gradishar in 1978.
Bailey’s top competition likely is Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher, widely considered the best player on the best defense in the NFL. An informal survey of voters points to Urlacher as the leading candidate, but there also is support for Bailey.
Bailey, who has intercepted eight passes and returned two for touchdowns this season, said he thinks he’ll be a top-five candidate, but he expects Urlacher to win it.
“It’d be fine with me if he won it; he’s a great player on a great defense,” Bailey said. “But I’d hope I’d have a shot. You don’t get the chance to win that award every day. It’d be a honor to have a chance.”
Other candidates include Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney, Chicago cornerback Nathan Vasher, New York Giants defensive end Osi Umen- yiora, Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu and Minnesota safety Darren Sharper.
There is no clear-cut statistic hog. Cincinnati cornerback and former Denver first-round pick Deltha O’Neal leads the NFL with 10 interceptions, but he is not considered a well-rounded player, and the Bengals’ defense has struggled. The NFL sack leader is Oakland’s Derrick Burgess with 15, but Burgess is considered one-dimensional on a 4-11 team.
If the interception or sack leader doesn’t get major consideration, the choice could come down to good all-around players playing on good teams. That moves Urlacher, Bailey and Freeney to the front of the pack.
Urlacher, who has 121 tackles, including 97 solo, has said it is a goal of his to win the award. He is the heart and soul of the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL, which has allowed only 168 points. The Bears have been the surprise of the NFL, going 11-4 and earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.
“It’s premature but if I win, that means we win a lot of games this year,” Urlacher told the Chicago Sun-Times. “You don’t get those individual awards unless your team does well. … Big plays is what I think they base that off of. Where your defense is rated, how many wins you have and big plays are a big part of it.”
Freeney has 10 1/2 sacks. He, too, is his team’s best defensive player, but has shared the spotlight on a defense that has emerged this season for the 13-2 Colts. Opposing teams have keyed on Freeney, allowing teammates Robert Mathis and Cato June to have big seasons.
“Guys like Urlacher and Freeney, these are top guys to me,” Bailey said. “They affect every play.”
Bailey’s season has included a team-record streak of an interception in five consecutive games. He missed two games this season with shoulder and hamstring injuries, but has made huge plays to help the Broncos to their best season since 1998. His interception return for a touchdown against San Diego in Week 2 awakened the team.
Bailey ranks third in the NFL with a combined 21 passes knocked down or intercepted, according to Stats, Inc. He is fourth on the team with 51 tackles and has forced a fumble. His latest jaw-dropping play came Saturday against Oakland when he knocked a sure touchdown pass out Randy Moss’ hands.
“That was one of the best plays I’ve ever seen,” Lynch said. “Champ broke away from his guy 5 yards away to knock that ball out of Moss’ hands. When I got back to the huddle, I told him that was sick. He just laughed.
“But that’s the impact Champ has had on this team, and I think he should be recognized for it.”
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-820-5450 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
