The Broncos’ HC Sean Payton didn’t listen to the naysayers as he prepared for his second season in the Mile High City. His fiery response to criticism—a playful jab about having “two middle fingers”—captured his determined spirit. While some might see this as a brush-off, Broncos’ All-Pro CB offered a different perspective. 

In a recent interview with Jim Rome, CB Surtain spoke candidly about Payton’s leadership style: “Man, I think that’s Sean for real! He has the right approach…he’s never backing down on anything!” The 24-year-old highlighted HC Payton’s true nature, a quality that resonates with the young CB. Surtain acknowledges Payton’s “different type of aura” and jokes, “Maybe I will see [the double birds] soon,” hinting at a potential glimpse of Broncos’ HC field spirit despite initial struggles. 

Sean Payton’s first year with the Broncos didn’t go well. The franchise finished 8-9, failing to advance to the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. This attracted plenty of criticism for the Super Bowl-winning coach. When asked if he had a chip on his shoulder due to the whole coaching conversation, Payton quipped to the reporters, “I think that I have two middle fingers. I’ve gotten better with age not using them.” And Patrick Surtain II echoed the sentiment.

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And this is not the first time the CB took a stand for Payton. While launching his foundation in 2023, Surtain opined, “Sean Payton, I believe, is a great hire, and he’s the guy that can give you Super Bowls.” Before joining Denver in 2023, HC Payton spent 15 seasons in New Orleans, leading the Saints to their first Super Bowl Championship with a 152-89 regular-season record. 

With the 2024 season starting September 5, NFL enthusiasts and analysts are turning their attention to the team’s future. They’re eager to see how Payton will strategize for the upcoming offseason, especially in the QB position. 

Broncos QB battle heats up: HC Payton cautions against rep-reading

During a 38-minute AFC coaches breakfast press conference in March 2024, Denver HC spoke about their QB situation. Payton said they’re rotating QBs Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson, and Bo Nix through first-team drills. The HC didn’t quite care about snap distribution: “We try to split up all the reps… I don’t think it’s early in OTAs.” 

The Broncos have dug deep on all the QBs on the team. Payton said there are “seven or eight” QBs who become starters in the league. He has, however, shown confidence in three QBs—Stidham, Wilson, and Nix. Currently, Payton is evaluating 91 players on the roster, who’ve had impactful performances. As HC Payton analyzes the 2024 offseason, Broncos fans will eagerly await the progress made during this critical time, hoping for a successful 2024 season.