Today’s question about the Broncos comes from William Hironimus. Send your questions via e-mail to jlegwold@denverpost.com.

Q: What are the chances we see Champ (Bailey) here, with or without the franchise tag?

A: William, the impending labor strife will affect free agency and how Bailey can approach it next month.

If NFL owners impose a lockout in early March, as expected, business grinds to a halt. In the event of a lockout, teams can have no interaction with the players.

That includes players such as Bailey, who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. At that point, players would lose their health-care benefits and could not negotiate with their current teams or any potential suitors.

Teams would not be able to make trades, have offseason workouts or have any other activity involving players.

Even the use of the franchise tag figures to be debated. Teams are under the impression they can impose a franchise tag if they wish.

However, on Thursday, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said he had just sent a memo to all of the NFLPA’s certified agents saying the union’s position is that the franchise tags cannot be used.

The chances of Bailey being back in Denver are probably independent of the franchise tag, because that price is likely too steep for a rebuilding team like the Broncos.

As many fans know, the Broncos pulled a multiyear deal off the table during the regular season because they feared the coming labor climate and weren’t sure they wanted to give such a lengthy deal to Bailey as he approaches his 33rd birthday in June.

Bailey and his representative were upset by that, believing a deal was already agreed to in principle. That was before the Broncos’ season cratered into a 4-12 finish.

So, Bailey won’t be giving the Broncos any break this time around on any potential deal, even if the Broncos wanted one. He made it clear the day after the season ended that where he plays next season will depend on where he feels he has the best chance to get to a Super Bowl.

So, put all of that together, and franchise tag or no franchise tag, the chances of Bailey being back in Denver, without a significant change of heart on both sides, are slim at this point.

Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com