Broncos coach Sean Payton regrets remarks about former coach
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[July 29, 2023]
One day after candidly criticizing former Denver coach
Nathaniel Hackett, new Broncos coach Sean Payton backed off his
verbal assault and said he made a mistake.
Payton referred to Hackett in an interview with USA Today on
Thursday as doing "one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of
the NFL," during his 15-game stint last season. The Broncos were
4-11 when they fired Hackett and finished 5-12.
"Listen, I had one of those moments where I still had my FOX hat on
and not my coaching hat on," Payton said at Friday's news
conference, referencing his former television studio analyst stint.
"I said this to the team in a meeting yesterday, we've had a great
offseason relative to that and I've been preaching that message, and
here I am, the veteran, stepping in it. It was a learning experience
for me, it was a mistake, obviously. I need a little bit more
filter.
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"There's a pound of flesh for these guys, and as a coach you stick
up for them, and after a while we're past that season last year and,
you know, I said what I said. Obviously, I needed a little bit more
restraint and I regret that."
Payton said he was regretting his words 40 minutes after saying
them.
Payton also criticized the way the Broncos' organization handled the
lead-up to the 2022 season after acquiring quarterback Russell
Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks.
After the buildup, Wilson endured a horrific season and Payton told
USA Today the problem wasn't just Wilson. He said it was an
organization-wide mess-up -- and among the culprits he pointed
toward was general manager George Paton, his new boss.
Payton also attempted to soften that blow on Friday.
"The front office and the ownership are the two reasons I came
here," Payton said. "George and I are close; he was one of the big
attractions, he and ownership. My point was it was just across the
board organizationally. It wasn't one person."
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Hackett is now the offensive coordinator of the
Jets and Payton even took shots at that organization, which obtained
high-profile quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the offseason. He said the
Jets were trying to win the offseason.
New York coach Robert Saleh fired back at Payton on Thursday,
including saying, "Obviously we're doing something right if you've
gotta talk about us when we don't play you until Week (5)."
Payton said he planned to reach out to Saleh and
the Jets.
"Yeah, at the right time. I think the world of Robert, I know him,"
Payton said. "I don't know Nathaniel. At the right time. It
certainly will bring more interest to the game when we play them,
but that seems like years from now. But I'll handle it the right
way."
Payton, 59, was brought in to revive the fortunes of the Broncos,
who have missed the playoffs in seven straight seasons. He coached
the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl title during the 2009 season.
The addition of Wilson did little to spark the offense as Denver
scored 16 or fewer points in 11 of the 15 games under Hackett.
After Hackett's departure, the Broncos scored 24 and 31 points while
splitting two games under interim coach Jerry Rosburg.
Wilson passed for 3,524 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in
15 games last season. He was a Pro Bowl selection in nine of 10
seasons with the Seahawks prior to the trade.
--Field Level Media
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