As an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey has lined up and locked down plenty of guys around the league.
And I don't really care for [Phillip Rivers], first of all. He's not a respectable guy right now because you talk too much trash and do this and that, but you're really not a great player in this league right now.
-- Denver's Champ Bailey
But Bailey says there was no defense for Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers' sideline taunting of Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler in the fourth quarter of Monday night's 23-3 Broncos loss in San Diego.
The video has made the rounds of the highlight shows near and far, but after an incomplete pass on fourth down in the fourth quarter, Rivers -- as well as linebackers Shaun Phillips and Matt Wilhelm -- clearly can be seen jawing at Cutler from the San Diego sideline.
But it was the Chargers quarterback who drew the Broncos' ire.
"And I don't really care for the guy, first of all," Bailey said of Rivers on Wednesday. "He's not a respectable guy right now because you talk too much trash and do this and that, but you're really not a great player in this league right now.
"You're surrounded by great players, but you're not a great player. I think he needs to understand where he stands in this league -- where he stands on his team first and foremost."
The incident was a topic of discussion among Broncos players as they gathered after the holiday to begin their workweek leading to Sunday's season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
Teammates said Cutler certainly was not happy with what was perceived as a breach of etiquette, but publicly he was measured in his response.
"We've talked about it a little bit," Cutler said. "I'm not going to get into it. It's an unfortunate situation. They talk a lot of stuff, it got heated between the two teams. Personally, I don't think the teams like each other, which is fine. It's just going to add to it later next year and the year after that. It should be exciting."
Asked if he had ever done that to another quarterback, Cutler shook his head and said "No."
Rivers said he used no profanity and was only reacting to his defense's play.
"We get a fourth-down stop, Wilhelm and Shaun Phillips, those guys been jawing the whole game with them," Rivers told The San Diego Union-Tribune. "We get a good stop. They are jawing. I'm not anywhere involved. I come out to congratulate them on the stop. I come out to congratulate them, and while I'm out there, yeah, there is some eye contact, but I'm saying 'atta baby' to Matt Wilhelm and Shaun Phillips. Sure, there is eye contact. Maybe there is a smirk. But I am speaking to my guys. That's all that was said.
"I don't think I have to defend myself. I used no profanity, I said nothing personal to anybody on that field. I was out there playing football. We're not in a tennis match. I understand some of the frustration is they've lost four in a row to this team. People don't like losing four in a row."
Rivers also said he was surprised by Bailey's reaction, saying: "He's one guy I've always said we respect him. He's one of the top corners in the league. Out there in the game, I say very little to Champ other than if we do complete one on him -- and you don't go after the guy -- he'll look at me, I'll grin at him like, 'Hey, we got you.' It's always been a very respectful communication between me and him. That surprises me."
Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler said the incident would come up again when the Broncos face the Chargers next season and veteran cornerback Dre Bly added Rivers had not yet "earned the right to do that."
"They've got a lot of classy guys on that team," Bailey said. "He kind of represents the classless guy on that team. He's definitely lost my respect."
straight from ESPN just to add fuel to the fire..we now have a good rivalry going
