Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has found himself back in the middle of a coach-media mess, and this one comes with a twist: the comments that sparked it may have been off the record.
The latest wrinkle came from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who reported that remarks Seattle Seahawks coach Mike MacDonald made to a reporter were supposed to stay off the record. Florio described the situation as one that “could get ugly” between the Seahawks and Graham Bensinger’s camp, and he said the exchange was “more off than on” the record.
That matters because the original spark already had plenty of heat. Recent reports said Payton accused MacDonald of “stealing” by using videos of practice plays taken by fans and posted on social media. The back-and-forth also included threats about lawsuits and “pushing the button.”
One obvious question hanging over the whole thing is why MacDonald would bring up material from two years ago now. The read here is that Seattle’s coach may be trying to needle Payton before the Oct. 15 matchup between the Seahawks and Broncos, because some NFL coaches have unusual ideas about what counts as bulletin board material.
Both coaches are expected to answer for it in media sessions this week, which almost guarantees more headlines. It also leaves room for Payton, MacDonald or both to say something they probably won’t want replayed later, and that should keep the talking heads busy trying to stir the pot.
Still, the noise around the story may end up mattering less than the game itself. Denver opened the season with a no-show against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, then turned in only a partial showing against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
The Broncos’ early schedule is a tough one for the first half-dozen games, and Payton would probably prefer to keep his comments about Sunday’s opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, as plain and boring as possible.
Then again, maybe not. There’s clearly a side of Payton that likes this kind of dust-up, and he never seems to be able to resist when the moment comes.
In Other News...
Sean Payton Just Put A Broncos Assistant In The Spotlight
After Denvers Week 1 offense sputtered, Sean Payton made a point of putting offensive coordinator Davis Webb in the spotlight for the way he responded and adjusted. For a Broncos staff still shaping the early-season identity around a new seasons opening growing pains, that kind of public credit matters, especially when the head coach is signaling that the fixes are being handled internally and with purpose.
The broader AFC West picture only adds to the pressure around Denvers work. Jim Harbaugh is trying to steady the Chargers after an 0-2 start, with Derwin James talking about the need for honesty and improvement, while Andy Reid is already managing workload issues and a larger role for rookie Emmett Johnson in Kansas City. In a division where every week seems to bring a fresh adjustment, Paytons praise for Webb suggests the Broncos are treating their own early issues as something to solve quickly, not something to explain away. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Get Their Biggest Early Test Yet In Prime Time
Bo Nix and the Broncos are getting an early chance to measure themselves under the brightest lights, with a Week 3 Sunday Night Football matchup at home against Matthew Stafford and the Rams. It is the kind of September test that can tell you a lot without telling you everything, especially with both teams still sorting out their identities after an uneven start. Denver and Los Angeles each dropped their opener before bouncing back in Week 2, and now the Broncos get to see where they stand against a veteran quarterback and a team widely expected to have the edge.
The Rams come in favored, which only raises the stakes for Denver as it tries to build on the positives from its second game and protect itself from the kind of mistakes that can tilt a prime-time showcase quickly. Injury status, individual performance and the betting line all add to the anticipation, but the bigger question is simple: can the Broncos turn an early-season home spotlight into a statement, or will this be the first clear reminder of how far they still have to go? [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Backfield Suddenly Has A New Concern Before Rams Game
The Broncos backfield has picked up some extra attention heading into their matchup with the Rams, with rookie running back Jonah Coleman dealing with a sprained ankle suffered in the Week 2 game against Jacksonville. Sean Payton said Coleman played well even while working through the injury, a small reminder of how quickly the depth chart can get tested in a physical early-season stretch.
RJ Harvey is also still being managed as he works his way back, while J.K. Dobbins is expected to practice this week. For Denver, the issue now is less about one injury than the accumulation of them, and how much flexibility the offense will have if the group is still sorting itself out by game day. [Read more 🡒]