Lions LB Reveals One of Sean Payton's Bombastic Motivational Methods

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has spent enough time in the NFL ranks to provide him with a wealth of motivational tools. Through the years, Payton has cherry-picked his mentor Bill Parcells' old routines many times, but he's also concocted his own highly individual motivational prompts.

Famously, Payton's tools of inspiration have ranged from hanging mouse traps from the New Orleans Saints locker room roof to gas canisters being placed in player stalls. For all of his past theatrics and playful nudges, the vast majority of football players still respond to the veteran coach's tried-and-true methods.

Sometimes the stick triumphs over the carrot, but coaches like Payton know all too well that a reward-based system tends to work best. On Saturday night, Payton will get reacquainted with linebacker Alex Anzalone, a trusted player he coached down in New Orleans, who now suits up for Dan Campbell's Detroit Lions.

It comes as no surprise to learn that Detroit's flowing-haired linebacker is particularly well-versed in Payton's tactics to create a competitive edge over his opponents. As an ex-player, when pressed, Anzalone gave up one of the more unusual motivational tricks of his former head coach.

"I think the one that most notably sticks out is when we walked into the team meeting room and he just had a clear, acrylic box full of hundreds," Anzalone said this week via The Detroit News. "It's like, full of hundreds. I don't even know how, but apparently, it was how much money you'd make if you made a run in the playoffs. So, you can probably do the math on that. I don't know where the money came from."

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At this late juncture of the season, securing a playoff berth might be the only tool Payton needs to motivate the Broncos. as his primary motivational tool. Payton is likely adding the sauce when and how he sees fit, but it never hurts to add a little juice to hone that extra edge.

An extra game check via a playoff berth adds up to north of $41,000 for each player, sometimes more, depending on whether the team in question is a division winner. That's a nice chunk of change for ambitious young men.

Whatever methods Payton opts to use to rally his troops, his long-standing friendship with Campbell, Detroit's head coach, is unlikely to allow the Broncos to sneak up on the similarly playoff-hungry Lions. Campbell has stated his belief that Payton will be seeking to "embarrass us" in the Motor City.

Having lost two of their last three games, the Lions are on high alert for the visit of the high-flying Broncos, so perhaps it's not the ideal time for Anzalone to be running into his old boss. But at least Anzalone knows how the wily Payton will be approaching this tilt, so the Broncos will have to dig deep in search of any element of surprise.

"It probably brings a little more edge to how you go about your week," Anzalone said. "I know Sean's probably going to try and come in here and put 50 (points) up on us and that's what we have to be ready (for). That's just how he is, just because of all the personal connections."

Payton might be keeping his motivational box of tricks under wraps until the Broncos make the playoffs, but it could be argued that every game from here on out comes with a postseason vibe. Don't rule out Payton reaching for an emotional turbo boost this weekend.

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