Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton addressed a couple of key points less than 24 hours after his team’s win over the Houston Texans, and he was particularly surly in doing so.
Payton and the Broncos secured an 18-15 victory, moving them to 7-2 on the season, tied for the best record in the NFL. However, the head coach made some seemingly incendiary comments regarding his special teams after the contest.
The 2025 trade deadline is also approaching, and Payton’s previous comments loom large.
Sean Payton Clears Air Over Postgame Comments
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on before facing the Houston Texans.
Payton praised the Broncos’ ability to control the trenches against the Texans, but a player running onto the field late led to a blocked field goal, leaving the veteran head coach to insist he would find a replacement if necessary.
However, Payton’s initial phrasing did not make it abundantly clear that he was referring to a player, whom he did not identify, and not special teams coach Darren Rizzi.
Payton did not mince words on Monday when pressed.
“If you’re paying attention, I’m referring to players that aren’t on the field that need to be. All right? Coaching is outstanding. All right? We’ll get that cleaned up. My point is, if there’s 10 on the field, and there’s supposed to be 11, all right, then that player that’s supposed to be out there, I’ll find someone else to do his job. Is that crystal clear?” Payton told reporters on November 3.
Payton had already said that his ire was not even directed at the block, or the loss of “leverage” that led to it, but rather the player running late on the field, reiterating his point from the day prior.
“Without watching it on tape, my concern was just the late subs. It was a little bit sloppy in the kicking game,” Payton said. “We’ll get that cleaned up, or we’ll find someone else that can do it.”
He also lamented their failure to “leverage the field position battle.”
Sean Payton Doubles Down on Broncos’ Trade Deadline Approach
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on before a game against the New York Giants.
Payton was also asked about the Broncos’ plans upcoming trade deadline, which is on November 4 at 4 p.m. ET, and said, “We’ll see. Payton was then asked if they would make a trade to send a message.
“We would never make a trade to send a message to the team,” Payton said. “Everyone in the locker room, our players, coaches, management, front office knows that we’re all in to win. The trade would take place. This supposed trade is if we found value in something that could help us. Period. That’s it. We’re not looking to send a message.”
The Broncos have been linked to potential trades to address tight end and wide receiver, though nothing concrete has surfaced.
Payton previously left the door open for the Broncos to make a move at the trade deadline.
“Yeah, at some point,” Payton told reporters on October 12. “We would always pay attention to what we might be looking for, and I think we have time to do that. But I’m not thinking about that right now.”
That still offers little clarity about which direction Payton and the Broncos could choose to go, sitting in a catbird seat despite some unfortunate injuries.
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