The Broncos’ brief flirtation with Drew Brees might end up being more curiosity than controversy, but it has at least raised the possibility of an NFL tampering look.
Sean Payton, now in Denver and once again connected to his old quarterback, tried to cool things down on Tuesday. The former Saints coach said the idea of a reunion with Brees during the Broncos’ playoff push never really got far, and in his telling, the contact started with Brees, not the Broncos.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Brees briefly considered stepping in to help replace Bo Nix for the AFC championship game before deciding his throwing arm was too worn down. Brees also told longtime NFL insider Ed Werder that he had been approached by his former coaches Joe Lombardi and Pete Carmichael, both now with Denver. Payton, though, framed it differently.
Here’s what Payton told Broncos reporters on Tuesday, via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio:
“Drew had reached out, I think, right after the championship or right after the playoff win against Buffalo. I think he called Pete, probably texted Pete or Joe, those guys.
None of it even came to my attention. So, when the story came up in Canton, I kept thinking they were just talking about the COVID season.
Even in the COVID season when he and I discussed possibly coming back for a Monday night game, he had trouble throwing it. So, I don’t think really anything really came of it.
I think in Drew’s mind, there’s that competitor in him. So, I was kind of out of the loop.
I don’t think it’s a big story, but nonetheless, certainly one that once they described it to me, it just never got to my level, I guess. He had reached out to Pete, I think, and then Joe.”
The wrinkle here is contractual. At the time, the Saints still controlled Brees’ rights, which means any contact about a possible return could invite scrutiny from the NFL office.
Werder reported that because the trade deadline had already passed, “the thought was that Brees or Payton could have attempted to convince Mickey Loomis to release his rights” so Brees could have joined the Broncos in January if his arm had been good enough. It wasn’t, and nothing came of it, but the possibility of an investigation still lingers.
For now, it’s a story with more smoke than fire. But if the league decides to dig, the question won’t be whether Brees could still throw. It’ll be who called whom, and when.
In Other News...
Rockies Finally Face A Franchise History Debate Fans Will Love
The Rockies have already carved out special places in franchise history for Todd Helton and Larry Walker, retiring both numbers and unveiling statues of the two Hall of Famers outside Coors Field. But the conversation around team honors does not stop there, especially with the club still kicking around the idea of a Ring of Fame display that has yet to take shape.
Nolan Arenado and Don Baylor are the names that naturally surface next when fans start weighing who belongs in that next tier of recognition. Arenados impact and Baylors role in the early identity of the franchise make for a debate the Rockies can expect plenty of opinions on, even if the club has not moved past the discussion stage yet. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Farm System Suddenly Has A New Wave Worth Watching
A new wave of prospects has started to give Colorado something to monitor down in the low minors, where five players from the Fresno Grizzlies picked up Single-A All-Star honors. For a farm system that has been looking for signs of momentum, the recognition matters because it points to more than just one hot stretch. It suggests the organization may finally have a cluster of players trending in the right direction at the same time.
Brito has stood out as a center fielder with clear improvement, while Brady Parker has backed up his rise with strong pitching numbers in the 2026 season. Both are drawing attention for the way they have sharpened their games, and that puts them in the conversation for possible movement up the ladder in the seasons ahead. The bigger question now is how much of this Fresno surge can carry forward as the Rockies keep searching for help that could one day reach Denver. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Freeland Is Getting Recognition Rockies Fans Will Truly Appreciate
Kyle Freelands season has already come with a different kind of spotlight, one that Rockies fans usually value as much as anything he does on the mound. He has been named Colorados nominee for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, a league-wide honor that recognizes players for what they do both in uniform and in the community, and it fits neatly with the way he has carried himself around Denver.
Freeland has been active with Special Olympics Colorado, helping raise funds and showing up for events, while also spending time mentoring young baseball players across the state. The voting process is now underway, which gives his work an added stage and turns a familiar local reputation into something with national recognition. [Read more 🡒]