Broncos’ Coach Payton & QB Wilson Pairing All Talk From The Very Beginning?
The Broncos recruited offensive genius Sean Payton as coach after a dismal 2022 with the hopes of bringing quarterback Russell Wilson back to Pro Bowl form.
Broncos’ Coach Payton & QB Wilson Pairing All Talk From The Very Beginning?
Wilson missed out on the Pro Bowl for just the second time in his 11 NFL seasons last year after completing only 16 touchdown passes, a career low.
Wilson’s play needs improvement, but Payton is also concentrating on altering the quarterback’s style of play.
No matter the good or the bad, when you lose week after week after week. Optics become harder & harder to find any of those positives. How all of this has gone in Denver is something I didn’t see coming with the Payton/Wilson partnership. @PointsBetFBG @StraightLinePod pic.twitter.com/qVejversY1
— Ryan D Leaf (@RyanDLeaf) October 13, 2023
Denver is 1-5 after a humiliating 19-8 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, their worst start since 1994. Wilson laboured throughout the game, completing 13-of-22 passes for 95 yards — the third-lowest yardage total in his career — with one touchdown pass and two interceptions. Payton didn’t fare much better, committing a costly error in the second quarter and allowing his offence to score its first points with 6:07 remaining.
Wilson has received criticism frequently for putting so much emphasis on maintaining his image off the field.
RUSSELL WILSON JUST FUMBLED THE GAME AWAY, JETS TOUCHDOWN!!!!
SEAN PAYTON IS PISSED OFF pic.twitter.com/q3RlPDZnQP
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) October 8, 2023
“Will you f—ing stop kissing all the babies? You’re not running for public office,” Payton said to Wilson.
It’s no secret that Wilson has his sights set higher than merely the game’s reward.
The Broncos paid six first-round draft selections and three second-round picks, as well as $345 million, to acquire and keep Wilson and Payton.
“Sean Payton knows without a shadow of a doubt that he is not going forward with Russell Wilson” pic.twitter.com/mF6MaWPGFo
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) October 13, 2023
With Denver winning only six of their past 23 games, the issue is whether Wilson and Payton are overrated.
Wilson had tremendous success with the Seahawks from 2012 through 2021, while rarely being forced to bear the heavy burden. Seattle depended on a strong defence and a powerful rushing game under head coach Pete Carroll.
What the #Broncos traded in order to get Russell Wilson and Sean Payton:
Contracts:
Russell Wilson 5-years, $242 Million
Sean Payton 5-years, $90 MillionPicks/Players:
3 First Round Picks (CB Devon Witherspoon, LT Charles Cross, DT Bryan Bresee)
3 Second Round picks
3rd Round… https://t.co/1r7lhc1Zz1 pic.twitter.com/Ssr12AgtkK— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 14, 2023
With the Saints, Payton had comparable success alongside quarterback Drew Brees. In New Orleans, the two won 151 games (including playoffs), the second-most by a quarterback-coach tandem in NFL history.
Wilson and Payton should be recognized among the finest in their fields for what they’ve done, but their legacies and careers are now in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, it isn’t working when these two are put together.
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