Sean Payton is aware of a bit one thing about reclamation initiatives. Practically twenty years after he rescued Drew Brees’ profession following a torn labrum within the QB’s throwing shoulder, Payton has turned his consideration to the revitalization of Russell Wilson. Like Brees, Wilson is an undersized passer, who thrives when he can roll out from behind his towering linemen.
Payton just isn’t a fan of how the Broncos dealt with final low season
On Thursday, Payton minimize a promo for the 2023 season by critiquing his predecessor, Nathaniel Hackett, in unusually blunt phrases throughout an interview with USA As we speak’s Jarrett Bell.
“It doesn’t occur usually the place an NFL staff or group will get embarrassed,” Payton instructed USA As we speak. “And that occurred right here. A part of it was their very own fault, relative to spending a lot [expletive] time making an attempt to win the offseason — the PR, the pomp and circumstance, marching individuals round and all these items.
“We’re not doing any of that. The Jets did that this yr. You watch. ‘Onerous Knocks,’ all of it. I can see it coming. Keep in mind when [former Washington owner] Dan Snyder put that Dream Workforce collectively? I used to be on the Giants [in 2000]. I used to be a younger coach. I assumed, ‘How are we going to compete with them? Deion [Sanders is] there now.’ That staff received eight video games or no matter. So, hear … simply put the work in.”
That jolt wakened the Jets and Broncos coaching camps. In case you’re questioning, the Broncos and Jets, the place Hackett is now offensive coordinator, do face off on Oct. 8. This remark shall be a significant storyline in Week 5 and Aaron Rodgers received’t overlook it. After Payton’s verbal nukes about Hackett reached Jets head coach Robert Saleh, he shot again with a verbal slingshot and referred to Payton as a “hater.”
The teaching fraternity is a tight-knit one and it’s uncommon to see a former head coach communicate so negatively about his predecessor — until there’s a previous destructive historical past. After a yr of working within the media for Fox Sports activities, Payton is much more cognizant of how the media recreation works. Possibly he discovered a bit a lot from Colin Cowherd’s sofa throughout his time away. Payton has to succeed in the postseason in 2023 on the naked minimal, as a result of if the Broncos falter, he’ll by no means hear the tip of it. It might additionally imply he was unable to restore Wilson’s glitchy coding.
2022 was one of the crucial disastrous seasons a bonafide celebrity quarterback has ever had. It was paying homage to Donovan McNabb turning right into a pumpkin with the Redskins and doubtless worse due to the Tremendous Bowl expectations heaped upon Denver.
For some time it appeared like Payton needed us to get all the way down to brass knuckles in 2023 and deal with soccer. Whether or not by design or coincidentally, Wilson has additionally been extra discreet this summer time. No Hazard Russ Subway advertisements and no viral memes. What we do know is that he is noticeably leaner after carrying extra bulk round than he had in previous seasons. Consequently, he moved round within the pocket much less usually, he was slower when he did and Hackett’s offense stifled his pocket motion. If Sean Payton is unable to get probably the most out of Wilson, no person can.