Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton dangers shedding the locker room after the group benched quarterback Russell Wilson in Week 17 and missed the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season.
“Pissed for Russ. Simply pissed for Russ, numerous us,” one participant stated of the choice, per ESPN’s Jeff Legwold.
One other participant added the timing was odd as Denver (8-9) nonetheless had an opportunity to make the playoffs, and Wilson produced stable numbers. In 15 video games, he accomplished 66.4 % of his passes for 3,070 yards, 26 TDs, eight interceptions and an above-average 98 passer ranking.
“We simply gained 5 in a row,” the participant stated, through Legwold. “We’re all going to help [backup] Jarrett Stidham, however Russ was giving every thing he had.”
Denver went 1-1 in two video games with Stidham and averaged 15 factors per recreation. Whereas Payton claimed benching Wilson would supply an offensive spark, he clearly wasn’t the issue, and the HC created a much bigger mess.
The Broncos will in all probability launch Wilson this offseason, which might be pricey. The transfer will end in $85M in useless cash, the biggest for a participant for the reason that wage cap began in 1994. Even when Denver splits the costs over the subsequent two seasons, it hinders a rebuild.
“Look, they’re in a bit of little bit of a field,” a basic supervisor instructed Legwold. “You attempt to keep away from useless cash, kicking that may, as a result of useless cash is basically gamers you may’t have due to gamers you let go and are nonetheless paying for — the larger the quantity, the extra gamers you may’t have.”
Buying extra expertise in free company would not appear viable, so Denver should nail the draft and discover a new franchise QB. Bleacher Report’s mock draft has the Broncos taking Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. — a 2023 Heisman finalist — with the twelfth total choose.
If this course of fails, the downward spiral will proceed, elevating doubts about Payton’s skill to revamp the downtrodden group.
