It appears that all the momentum in the Denver Broncos’ headhunting search has been suddenly arrested as Sean Payton – the hottest candidate on the market – puts the team on alert amid interest from other 11-hour suitors.
The Arizona Cardinals are at Payton. Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper won’t be deterred. And suddenly, after conflicting reports of Payton giving a second interview with the Broncos, the stock no longer seemed headed in that direction for CEO Greg Penner.
Penner could feel powerless in this situation, despite his billions of dollars and co-ownership of one of the most iconic franchises in NFL history, if that’s the case. FOX SportsAnd radio host Colin Coward reported on Tuesday that it’s true. during a day segment flockCowherd mentioned that the Broncos have already decided Payton is their guy, and so has the $245 million quarterback at Mile High City.
“I’m told the Broncos have made a decision,” Coward said. “They want Sean Payton. Russell Wilson told the Broncos owners he wanted Sean Payton.”
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So if the NFL’s richest landlord should have already decided on Payton, why hasn’t a rental been announced? Cowherd said Denver could offer Payton upwards of $25 million a year, which would reshape the head coaching market and make it the highest paid ever.
According to Cowherd, Payton seems unsure about the Broncos. Specifically, Payton cringes at working with Wilson.
Watch the Cowherd clip above for more context, but the cliff-notes version is something like this: Suddenly, it might be Wilson he Laundered, an anonymous NFL executive said recently the athleteand that prospect, combined with having to compete with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year in the division, respectively, and a general lack of draft capital (especially after a trade to the New Orleans Saints for his rights), could have Payton dragging his feet.
However, this does not pass the scent test. It was Coward who, right after speaking with Payton, reported how impressed the former Saints coach was with the Broncos’ new ownership group, especially majority owner Rob Walton. It was Coward who reported, just last week, that Wilson is not only the responsibility the anonymous execs say he is, but that Payton would be happy to coach the veteran quarterback.
Now, though, Cowherd sings a different tune. All the Positives Coward talked about last week in regards to the Broncos vacancy and Payton suddenly turning around cons.
No lie, last week Coward raved about how Denver would be the best possible choice for a coach of Payton’s caliber Because He’d get highly scrutinized matchups with Mahomes and Herbert twice a year, and how getting a job at Carolina or anywhere else would be akin to the NFL disappearing. Suddenly, Cowherd’s speech was completely reversed as if we were living in the Upside Down.
The only reason I see it changing, considering Cowherd and Payton both collect their salaries FOX SportsBecause that’s what the radio host is suddenly hearing from the man himself. what does that mean?
Either Payton has really gone cold on the Broncos, or – and this is a huge and obvious possibility – he is using his media contacts and platform to leverage the Walton/Penner combination to ensure he gets $25 million a year.
As of this writing, the Broncos have not officially set a date for a second interview with Payton, or any of the candidates interviewed in the first round of these meetings. We’ll see how Payner treats Payton in the media and how eager he is to make this deal.
Stay tuned.
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