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Ex-Vikings reporter Chris Tomasson, now in Denver, irks Sean Payton

Tomasson is known as a bulldog reporter, not afraid to ask the tough questions.
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Chris Tomasson has many battles with former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. Zimmer's disdain for the then-Pioneer Press reporter was palpable, and now Tomasson appears to be getting under the skin of Zimmer's longtime friend, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. 

After the Broncos were scorched 70-20 by the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday, Tomasson 

"I'm at a loss for words. I've been on the other side of some games like that and then every once in a while in this league you get your butt whipped, but this was more than that," said Payton after the loss dropped his team to 0-3. 

Here's how Tomasson's back and forth with Payton went...

Tomasson: "You said it's embarrassing but this is kind of a historic game..."

Payton: "I'm aware."

Tomasson: "Third time a team has scored 70 points..."

Payton: "What's the question? What's the question?"

Tomasson: "How do you feel about it [inaudible] this historically embarrassing?"

Payton: "I just finished telling you. Next question."

Days before Zimmer was fired after the 2021 season, Tomasson asked Zimmer about his job status and the head coach snapped back: "No, I haven't heard anything about my job status," Zimmer said, pointing at Tomasson and adding, "I haven't heard anything about yours, either."

Tomasson joined the Pioneer Press in 2013. Prior to that he covered the NBA for the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. He also covered the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins for Fox Sports. He left the Pioneer Press in March for his current job in Denver.