Sean Payton Pushes Back at Media's Relentless Russell Wilson Criticism
Russell Wilson can't catch a break.
Before his first year with the Denver Broncos was even in the books, Wilson went from being viewed as an elite, almost untouchable Pro Bowl quarterback to a national lampoon. After forcing his way out of Seattle, many hit pieces have been directed at the former Super Bowl champion, mostly stirring the pot about why he wanted the Seahawks to trade him in the first place.
Wilson has been smeared and dragged through the proverbial mud. The latest shade blast came from The Athletic, wherein anonymous "sources" claimed that Wilson asked for Seahawks GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll to be fired and replaced by Sean Payton. Wilson denied the accusation.
In that same report, much was made of the now notorious personal office the Broncos' previous coaching staff gave Wilson upon arrival, separating him from his teammates in the locker room — and some would argue — putting him on a pedestal of sorts.
It's funny how things have a way of working out. Fast forward one year, and although Wilson's public image and NFL resume have taken a shellacking, he'll be coached by Payton in Denver. Maybe some things do happen for a reason, after all.
It wasn't so long ago — only a matter of weeks, actually — that Payton was a member of the national media as a FOX Sports analyst. In his one year off from coaching, that's what Payton did to earn a paycheck and keep his finger on the pulse of the NFL.
Thus, the Broncos' new head coach understands how the new-media sausage gets made. When it comes to all the hoopla surrounding Wilson's second-floor office at UCHealth Training Center, Payton sees through the hysteria. He offered a defense of Wilson during his Tuesday presser at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"It was a tough year," Payton said. "Someone said it last night—I forget what I was watching—if they have success last [year], I don't think the upstairs meeting room matters to anybody. I don't think it matters because I didn't see any articles from any of you prior to Week 1 or Week 2 and that was happening. That’s what happens when you lose. Everything gets looked at closely, including the coaching."
By NFL rule, Payton is currently limited in how much one-on-one time he can spend with Wilson during the offseason. However, the head coach was able to sit down with Wilson over Super Bowl weekend, a meal that also included Hall-of-Famer Joe Montana. Payton shared a few anecdotes from that well-publicized dinner.
"I know Russell was interested in talking about where we're going, and I was interested in learning from Joe Montana," Payton recalled. "It was a good conversation. We're looking forward to the start of the season, obviously. Certainly, for Russell standards—and the Bronco standards—it wasn't the type of year that they wanted. And typically, that's why new head coaches arrive. We have a lot of work ahead of us right now. We're just kind of getting started."
Broncos Country can't wait to see what Payton's blueprint to resurrect Wilson looks like, and while everyone, including we in the media, are dying to find out, too, first thing's first. Payton has to put the finishing touches on hiring his new coaching staff in Denver, knock out 2023 free agency (which begins March 15) and the NFL draft.
Then, he and Wilson can take that first step down the path to redemption and competitive relevance. In the meantime, Payton isn't all that interested in talking about what's happened in the past, and that includes Wilson's office. Payton is focused on the now and the future.
“A lot was made of that, and it was just an honest answer," Payton said of the Wilson office trope. "I know what I'm familiar with and what I'm expecting. You guys will hear me throughout the season. At some point, we will digest the all-22 or you guys will digest the all-22. For me and this team, when we get into the offseason, I'm going to park a car with no rearview mirrors. (Pointing up) I don't know what this one's called either—it's a rearview mirror—and sideview mirrors, those will all be gone. We have to get past all those difficult things."
Some of the difficult decisions have already been made, including putting a stop to Wilson's private throwing coach — Jake Heaps — having unfettered access to the Broncos' facilities. Moving forward, any coaching that takes place at Broncos HQ will be undertaken by one whose paycheck is signed by the Walton/Penner group.
Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!
