NFL teams
Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Lions work out Champ Bailey

NFL, New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Champ Bailey is looking for a new place to play and, on Thursday morning, the Detroit Lions decided they wanted to take a look at the All-Pro for themselves.

The Lions worked out the 36-year-old Bailey at the team's practice facility as their search continues for cornerbacks who potentially can help them. There was no indication, though, whether the team will sign Bailey.

"We worked him out, had a good look at him as well as several other guys," coach Jim Caldwell said. "And at this point we are where we are."

Bailey was released by New Orleans during the final round of cuts last Saturday, making him a free agent. The No. 7 pick in the 1999 draft, Bailey has been to the Pro Bowl 12 times and was named an All-Pro seven times, most recently in 2012.

He has 785 career tackles, 142 passes defended and 52 interceptions. He would provide another veteran presence to the Lions' secondary, which starts veteran Rashean Mathis and second-year pro Darius Slay at cornerback.

Bailey missed three weeks of training camp with the Saints dealing with a foot injury, which might have hindered his chances of making the New Orleans roster and ultimately led to his release.

Bailey said during training camp he knew despite his pedigree he still needed to prove he could play.

"With a player like Champ, we don't need to see it every day, we just need to see it once in a while," Saints coach Sean Payton said earlier this preseason.

That is what Bailey was trying to show the Lions on Thursday. If the team signs Bailey, he would give a massive amount of knowledge to a somewhat inexperienced cornerback group.

"Any extra experience, any extra knowledge is good," Mathis said. "It's good to see that. You can never have enough of it."

Caldwell declined to go into the specifics of Bailey's workout and mentioned the team also brought players in to work out Wednesday, which was the team's off day. NFL clubs typically do that on off days.

Instead of discussing Bailey, Caldwell wanted to focus on the cornerbacks on the roster.

"I think we've got a great group of guys. We have a group of guys that are extremely focused," Caldwell said. "They are young. Some of them have to get experience. There are some with some experience and they are just going to have to play and play well, which we anticipate."

The Lions re-signed Mathis in the offseason. They also brought in Cassius Vaughn through free agency and drafted Nevin Lawson in the fourth round, although Lawson is likely viewed as a developmental project.

NFL Nation Saints reporter Mike Triplett contributed to this report.

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