Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey has admitted that the club's recent Super Bowl defeat to the Seattle Seahawks was particularly disappointing because of how close the players are to one another.

Bailey said that despite his disappointment at having got so far only to fall short, the Seahawks were more than deserving of their win.

"You get this far and you're together this long, it does sting a little more because you built up so many more relationships than you have in the past," Bailey told the club's official website.

"I've been through several seasons and forget some of the guys I've played with, but there is not a guy in this locker room I won't remember.

"We got close, but obviously we just have to be more ready to play. I just felt like they were more ready, they wanted it more and the obvious outcome was that they won."

The Broncos scored just one touchdown in the game.