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JANUARY 2024
January 10, 2024 Scotty Mountz
“I wasn’t going to take away injury guarantees. This game is such a physical game. I’ve played for 12 years and that matters to me.” - Russell Wilson
BEEF.
BEEF.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the Denver Broncos organization, they once again find themselves at a crossroads, facing challenges in cap space, the draft, free agency, and now locker room charisma. The recent struggles between Russell Wilson and head coach Sean Payton have become a focal point of discussion within football circles, leaving fans and analysts alike pondering the reasons behind the turbulence.
The partnership between a team and its head coach is often likened to a marriage—full of highs, lows, and the ongoing quest for divisional championships and Super Bowl rings. For the Broncos and Sean Payton, this union seemed promising upon Russell Wilson's contract extension in 2022, especially with Payton's proven track record as a Super Bowl-winning coach and Wilson's multiple Super Bowl appearances(and win). However, recent performances and the scandalous activities behind closed doors have left Broncos Country scratching their heads, wondering what comes next.
One cannot ignore the impact of injuries, as the Broncos have faced a barrage of setbacks that would test even the most seasoned coaching staff. The toll on key players has been undeniable, disrupting the team's rhythm and forcing Payton to adapt on the fly and make multiple personnel changes throughout the season. This is where it gets thick between Russell Wilson's camp and upper management for the Broncos. Here is what we know to be factual in the Russ situation:
Russell Wilson can still play for the Broncos next year.
The Broncos signed Russ to a 5-year-extension for $245 million in September
Part of Wilson’s contract is an injury clause which guarantees him $38 million in addition to his yearly salary.
Sean Payton approached Russ about removing the injury guarantee from his contract after the win versus the Chiefs in week 8 and Russ denied this move, reminding the media of his long tenure in the league and the physicality of the game:
Payton did not take this well and therefore threatened to bench Russ if he did not remove this clause from his contract.
The clash of expectations is another factor looming large in this narrative. The Broncos, with their passionate, ride-or-die fan base and troubled recent history, regardless, have always held themselves to high standards. Sean Payton, arriving with a pedigree of success (with Drew Brees), brought a set of expectations of his own. The struggle to align these aspirations has fueled speculation about the compatibility of the Broncos vision and Sean Payton's scheme. It seems as if the Broncos have yet to find their identity in the recent years, and it has always seemed as if the Broncos are trying to build a plane in mid-air.
Whether this Sean Payton chapter ends in triumph or tribulation remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—the Broncos are going to be very busy this offseason, or at least should be. Repairing Sean Payton's damaged ego will likely be the top priority, but one could only hope the Broncos set out to make another big move.
DECEMBER 2023
December 19, 2023 Scotty Mountz
Let's be very realistic about the Broncos' playoff hopes
Let's be very realistic about the Broncos' playoff hopes
As we all know, the Broncos are getting ready to enter the biggest 3 game stretch of the season thus far. Some of you may say the stretch coming off the bye was the biggest moment of our season, and I can partially agree. Those three games came at a time where the Broncos were virtually identity-less, and let's be honest; NOBODY expected us to win 5 games in a row after the start we had. I would argue that stretch of games in the middle of the season were solely to find some consistency and charisma with both sides of the ball. I am still trying to figure out if Sean Payton hates Russ and the defense has yet to get back in their turnover-forcing groove that we experienced during the streak.
Let's look at the positives so far this season:
In general, the Broncos are a 7-win team and actually have the opportunity to be a 10-win team come January- this would mark the first double-digit win season since the 2015 Super Bowl-winning season.
This team started 0-3 with brutal losses to the Raiders at home, another loss at home to the trash can Commanders, and then literally the worst loss in franchise history in the Miami Dolphins. Fast forward a 5-game win streak, a historic defensive turnaround, and a few personnel changes and this same Broncos team is in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.
Russell Wilson, while may not be putting up the numbers we were accustomed to seeing during his tenure in Seattle, is playing at a much more efficient, quicker, and balanced pace this season. Last year, the questions of Russell's mobility and weight unfortunately were answered as Russ's contributions have severely increased, specifically in his movement in and out of the pocket, and his ability to throw the ball down the field. This year, the Broncos have undoubtedly made an attempt to work around Russ' skillset and the play-calling has been much more aggressive under Sean Payton.
Courtland Sutton has had a tremendous season, finding paydirt in 10 of 14 contests, a career high for him, while also leading the team in total touchdowns. Courtland Sutton has been a menace in the red zone this year and has created nightmares for undersized corner backs and wimpy secondary defenders. While the yardage does not necessarily draw the attention of opposing NFL defenses, Courtland's ability to make big plays in man coverage has been second to none. We are finally seeing the true potential of some of the pass catchers of the Broncos, and a head coach that has the ultimate trust in his #1 wide receiver.
The Broncos remaining schedule, a breakdown:
Week 15: Patriots
The Patriots, alike the previous Broncos teams in recent history, have had quarterback struggles damn near all year and it appears like Bill Belichick is on his unannounced farewell tour out of New England. Simply put, this is a must-win game for the Broncos, which has not been our forte this year, and we have a really good chance to beat a bad team badly, giving us momentum for the remaining 2 games.
Week 16: Chargers
The internet would probably tell you Bill might as well stay another week and hop on the Chargers team plane after their trip to Denver in week 16. For some odd reason, the media seems to think Belichick is gonna be moving coast-to-coast next season and will be leading the pack in Los Angeles, mostly because of the physical comparisons between Tom Brady and Justin Herbert. That is about the only comparison as Justin Herbert has been abysmal leading the Chargers offense this year, and Brandon Staley is some how making his play worse. Again, this is a team the Broncos have full capability of beating up on as they did 2 weeks ago, and there really is no excuse to lose to a team that is led by a coach everyone knows will be looking at the job market come January.
Week 17: @ Raiders
Finally, the Broncos will travel to Las Vegas to play in a monumental game for the entire Denver team and fanbase. The Broncos have not beaten their biggest rival in the Raiders in almost exactly 4 years to the date, totaling 7 losses since the Broncos emerged victorious. In my humble opinion, the Broncos have a few more impressive wins than the Raiders and they have been playing under the same, or similar scheme the entire season while the Raiders are still getting acclimated to Antonio Pierce's style since the removal of Josh McDaniels. (Side note- Josh McDaniels is the first NFL head coach in HISTORY to be fired by two different teams midway through the season) But these current players seem to be very fond of AP's style. If all that stands between a playoff birth and a Wild Card spot is the Cabo-bound Raiders, this is one of the last teams we want to face.
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