Payton: Broncos’ Super Bowl Hopes Hinge on Nix

Payton: Broncos’ Super Bowl Hopes Hinge on Nix

Sean Payton, the Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Denver Broncos, joined The Rich Eisen Show, offering insights into his team’s trajectory and the hypothetical ‘what ifs’ of Super Bowl LX. The conversation, touching upon legendary figures like Al Davis and Bill Belichick, eventually zeroed in on the Broncos’ potential, particularly with a healthy Bo Nix.

The Bo Nix Conundrum

A prevailing narrative suggests that had quarterback Bo Nix not suffered an ankle injury, the Broncos could have contended for Super Bowl LX. Payton, while acknowledging the timing of the injury was unfortunate, believes this perspective is somewhat unfair to the Seattle Seahawks, who ultimately defeated the Broncos. “I think it’s unfair a little to Seattle in that look, they they did it,” Payton stated. He emphasized the difficulty of navigating the playoff grind, especially as teams advance deeper into the postseason.

Despite the playoff exit, Payton expressed optimism about the team’s position heading into year three under his guidance. “We feel like we found that” in developing a quarterback, he said, referring to Nix. Payton stressed the importance of filtering out the ‘white noise’ of draft speculation and mock drafts, advocating for a strong conviction in player evaluation. “It’s harder now than it ever has been” to scout effectively, he noted, due to the constant influx of external opinions.

Building the Broncos’ Future

Payton highlighted the significant financial relief the team is experiencing, moving past the substantial cap hits associated with Russell Wilson’s tenure. This financial flexibility, he explained, is crucial for building the roster. “We’re going to be in a little bit better shape capwise,” Payton confirmed. He detailed the process of evaluating the current roster, including the difficult task of removing impending free agents from depth charts to accurately assess team needs. Key priorities include inside linebackers and potentially addressing the running back position after the departure of Dobbins.

The Broncos coach also touched upon the draft strategy, emphasizing the balance between selecting the best available player and considering positional needs, particularly in the middle rounds. Free agency, which begins shortly, is also a critical component of their offseason plan. “Free agency starts pretty much right away,” Payton noted, recalling the success they had a year prior in acquiring key pieces through free agency.

Competition Committee Discussions

The conversation shifted to the NFL’s competition committee, where Payton is actively involved. He addressed the ‘tush push’ play, suggesting it’s no longer a top concern for the league. “I don’t think there will be,” he responded when asked about renewed discussions, adding that its effectiveness seemed to wane, with teams opting for different personnel to execute it.

A significant point of discussion was the revamped kickoff rule. Payton expressed his approval of the dynamic nature of the new kickoff, though he acknowledged it eliminates the element of surprise onside kicks. “The one thing that I find now as a coach is man that ball is starting at the 35, right? And so we want to cover that,” he said, referencing the altered field position dynamics. He elaborated on how the new kickoff has shifted starting field position, potentially impacting late-game scoring scenarios.

Regarding the onside kick itself, Payton isn’t keen on replacing it with an offensive play. He believes the league can adjust alignment rules to achieve desired recovery percentages, citing the excitement generated by onside kicks, especially when a team is trailing. “The most exciting ending to an NFL game is when a team’s down two scores and they score a touchdown. The onside kick is exciting when you know it’s coming as well,” he remarked.

Payton also weighed in on the proposed replay assist for unsportsmanlike conduct. He clarified that the intention is to address situations like fights or altercations, helping officials identify the primary instigator. “It’s not for a face mask, my,” he stated, emphasizing it’s about cleaning up the game’s visual aspects, not penalizing every minor infraction.

Draft Room Anecdotes

The interview concluded with tales from the draft room. Payton recounted his strong endorsement of running back Alvin Kamara during his time with the Saints. He vividly remembered a private workout where Kamara’s football intelligence and skill set were immediately apparent. “You could feel his football intelligence,” Payton said of Kamara, drawing a comparison to his experience coaching other talented players.

He also shared a memorable draft moment with the Giants, where the Jets selecting Santana Moss ahead of them in the first round was a significant disappointment. However, the most striking anecdote involved the Chiefs trading up to select Patrick Mahomes. Payton revealed the Broncos (then the Chargers) were targeting either Mahomes or cornerback Marshon Lattimore at pick 11, only to see Kansas City leapfrog them. “And so now Buffalo’s on the clock, but we know we’re getting one of those two,” Payton explained. “And when they announced there’s been a trade… and then as soon as they said the Chiefs, I turned to Lumis and I said, ‘There goes Mahomes.'” He acknowledged the remarkable talent that emerged from that draft, with Kamara eventually becoming Offensive Rookie of the Year in the third round, while Mahomes went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (a slight misstatement, Mahomes won MVP, not DROY, and Lattimore won DROY that year) and revolutionize the league.

Source: Would the Broncos with Bo Nix have WON Super Bowl LX? Sean Payton says… | The Rich Eisen Show (YouTube)