Elam's departure concerns Bailey
ENGLEWOOD - Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey doesn't like the fact Jason Elam will be working for the Atlanta Falcons this season.
Usually kickers keep to themselves in NFL locker rooms, but Bailey appreciated Elam. Elam, who kicked four game-winning field goals last season, signed with the Falcons last week, and Bailey said he thinks about Denver's unsettled kicking situation all the time.
"I'm very concerned," he said. "When you play a long time, you understand how important that position is, and you lose games with them."
Finding a kicker isn't the team's only issue. Trainer Steve Antonopulos said in a statement that receiver Brandon Marshall will need three to four months to recover from his arm injury, which would make him available at the start of training camp in late July.
Last weekend Marshall suffered lacerations to an artery, vein, nerve, two tendons and three muscles when he said he fell through an entertainment center. His elbow and forearm will be immobilized for six weeks, and then he will begin rehabilitation. Marshall was not available to answer questions Tuesday.
"We are going to need him," Bailey said. "I just hope we do everything in our power as a team to get him back healthy and ready for the season. That's all that matters."
As for the kicking game, Denver has Matt Prater, who has made 1 of 4 field goal attempts in his career. Veterans Olindo Mare and John Carney are among the few notable free agent kickers. Bailey said he doesn't know who will kick, but he's cautiously waiting to find out.
"I tell you what, there better be a guy that impresses me when these camps start rolling around because it will really, really bother me then," he said.
Bailey was part of a talented Washington Redskins team in 2000 that used five ineffective kickers and finished 8-8. He made it clear that he had a kicker in mind for this season.
"I wish it was Elam," Bailey said. "But I can't make that call."
Koutouvides ready
Niko Koutouvides backed up Lofa Tatupu at middle linebacker in Seattle the past three seasons, but he is ready to compete for a starting spot with the Broncos. Koutouvides could start at middle linebacker with D.J. Williams moving back to the outside, but Koutouvides said nothing's been promised.
"I haven't seen any depth charts of that nature," he said. "When I came here they said the opportunity is there for ‘Mike' linebacker. Obviously you're going to have to compete and we will play the best three linebackers."
