Dwayne Bowe's playing peak was relatively brief, beset by his frustrating penchant for drops and a work ethic that many called into question. When the former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver was at his best, though, he engaged in some classic one-on-one battles with standout Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, adding an extra layer of intrigue to one of the NFL's most heated rivalries.

In an interview with celebrity gossip TMZ, Bowe, who officially retired as a member of the Chiefs earlier this week, singled out Bailey as the “toughest to ever cover” him, recalling one game in particular when Bailey didn't allow him to catch a single pass.

“The toughest to ever cover Dwayne Bowe? I would say Champ Bailey when he played at Denver,” Bowe said. “He actually held me to no catches in one game. I had one catch but they called pass interference on me; I think they cheated. But that was the only game I never had a catch in, so I would say champ Bailey.”

Bailey, a 12-time Pro Bowler, retired in 2013 after a long career that established him as one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February, the first time he was eligible.

Bowe, 6-foot-2, 221 pounds, led the NFL with 15 receiving touchdowns in 2010, and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards three times during his nine-year career. His last NFL appearance came in 2015 with the Cleveland Browns. A first-round pick in 2007, Bowe is Kansas City's third all-time leading receiver.