All momentum in the Denver Broncos head coach search appears to have been suddenly halted as Sean Payton – the most coveted candidate on the market – put the team on hold amid 11 a.m. interest other suitors.
The Arizona Cardinals are on Payton. Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper will not be discouraged. And suddenly, after conflicting reports that Payton has a second interview scheduled with the Broncos, it no longer feels like the arrow is pointing in that direction for CEO Greg Penner.
Penner might feel helpless in this situation, despite his many billions of dollars and co-ownership of one of the most legendary franchises in NFL history, if what FOX Sports‘ radio host Colin Cowherd reported on Tuesday is true. During a segment on The herdCowherd reported that the Broncos have already decided Payton is their man, as has the $245 million quarterback from Mile High City.
“I was told the Broncos made a decision,” Cowherd said. “They want Sean Payton. Russell Wilson told the Broncos owners he wanted Sean Payton.”
What happens next for the Broncos? Don’t miss any news and analysis! Take a second and Sign up for our free newsletter and get the latest Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!
So if the NFL’s wealthiest owners have supposedly already chosen Payton, why hasn’t a hiring been announced? Cowherd said Denver could offer more than $25 million a year to Payton, which would restore the head coaching market and make him the highest paid ever.
According to Cowherd, it looks like Payton isn’t sure about the Broncos. Specifically, Payton plans to work with Wilson.
Watch Cowherd’s clip above for more context, but the cliff-notes version goes like this: Suddenly, maybe Wilson is washed, as an anonymous NFL executive recently put it Athleticismand that possibility, combined with having to compete with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year in the division, respectively, and an overall lack of project capital (especially after a trade to the New Orleans Saints to acquire his rights) , could have Payton dragging his feet.
It doesn’t pass the smell test, though. It was Cowherd who reported, after speaking directly with Payton, how the former Saints head coach was impressed with the Broncos’ new ownership group, particularly majority owner Rob Walton. It was Cowherd who, just last week, reported that not only is Wilson not the liability that unnamed executives say he is, but that Payton would be happy to coach the veteran quarterback.
Now, however, Cowherd sings a different tune. All the advantages Cowherd spoke last week about the Broncos vacancy and Payton suddenly turned to the inconvenients.
No lie, Cowherd explained last week that Denver would be the best possible choice for a coach of Payton’s caliber because he would get high profile games with Mahomes and Herbert twice a year, and how taking a job in Carolina or elsewhere would be like doing an NFL disappearing act. Suddenly the whole Cowherd spiel was reversed as if we were living upside down.
The only reason I could see it changing, considering Cowherd and Payton take their paychecks from FOX Sports, it’s because that’s what the radio host suddenly hears from the man himself. What does that mean?
Either Payton really got cold feet at the Broncos, or – and it’s an obvious high probability – he’s using his media contacts and platform to leverage the Walton/Pener Group to ensure he gets that mythical 25. million dollars/year.
As of this writing, the Broncos have yet to officially schedule a second interview with Payton, or any of the candidates interviewed in the first round of those sit-downs. We’ll see how Penner gets played in the media by Payton and how badly he wants to get this deal done.
Stay tuned.
Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on Youtube for daily live Broncos podcasts!
#Denver #Broncos #Reportedly #Decision #Hiring #Sean #Payton