Honolulu – It has taken Broncos and AFC coach Mike Shanahan nearly seven months and more than 3,000 miles, but he likely will accomplish a season-long goal today at Aloha Stadium: He will use Champ Bailey on offense.
In the relaxed setting of the Pro Bowl, Shanahan – as secretive about game plans as any coach in the NFL – sipped coffee Saturday after the AFC team’s 30-minute practice and came clean.
“I might get Champ in there on offense for a play or two,” he said.
Shanahan wanted to use the cornerback at receiver some this past season but never got the opportunity. Bailey missed the preseason with a hamstring injury and played through myriad injuries during the season. Shanahan said he hopes to use Bailey, who played about 20 plays on offense in his first season in Denver in 2004, on offense next season.
“We never had the chance this year,” Shanahan said. “But to have a guy on the field like Champ, you have to consider that. He’s so fast and so gifted, he can help you both ways.”
Bailey practiced some plays at receiver this past week while Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson has practiced a few plays at cornerback.
Burns to be back
The agent for veteran linebacker and special-teams player Keith Burns said he expects his client to re-sign with the Broncos at the beginning of free agency. Because Burns signed a one- deal deal worth the veteran minimum, he can’t re-sign until the contract expires. But agent David Hardin said Burns will be back.
Denver has gotten a fast start on free agency, securing center Tom Nalen and key reserve safety Sam Brandon to extensions in the past week and a half. The open market begins March 3.
The Broncos’ priorities are offensive tackle Matt Lepsis and defensive tackle Gerard Warren. Each player’s contract voids, and the Broncos likely will work through the end of the month on their extensions.
Lynch staying put
Broncos safety John Lynch said Friday that he will not consider a position on Fox’s “NFL Sunday” pregame show. A report had mentioned Lynch as a candidate. But Deion Sanders is the front-runner for the job.
Lynch said he spoke to the show’s producer, Scott Ackerson, at a social event and Ackerson mentioned the job. How- ever, Lynch informed Ackerson he plans to honor the final year of his Denver contract, and perhaps beyond.
“I’m playing,” Lynch said. “Ackerson did say, ‘Hey, we’d like to have you when all is said and done, how much longer are you going to play?’ I said, ‘Scott, I’m feeling good.’ That was it.
“But, hey, that’s not such a bad thing to get your name thrown around for something like that.”
