Sean Payton defends handling of Russell Wilson, hints at ‘Hard Knocks’

After the Denver Broncos benched quarterback Russell Wilson last week, coach Sean Payton faced heavy criticism from fans and pundits for how he handled the Wilson situation this season.

Payton yelling at Wilson on the sideline did not help the perception that the coach was not a fan of his quarterback, but Payton did stick up for Wilson the moment he arrived in Denver.

Pundits like ESPN’s Ryan Clark seem to have forgotten about Payton’s defense of Wilson this offseason. The coach has been absolutely blasted by national media members since Wilson was benched.

The coach was asked last Friday about the criticism he’s faced.

“I think it’s part of the deal, and I understand it,” Payton said. “I get it. It’s the only thing that makes me once and a while want to do Hard Knocks. There’s a perception. That would be the only reason to get an inside look as to this whole ‘old school’ approach. Shoot, you don’t do this this long if you’re not adjusting, funny, creative — all those things. I think I am all those things.”

The Broncos can’t refuse an invitation from the NFL to go on Hard Knocks next summer since they won’t have a new head coach, missed out on the playoffs in 2023, and haven’t been on the program in the previous ten years. Going into the summer, Payton’s suggestion that he might even somewhat be willing to go on the show could be something to watch.

Returning to Wilson Following Sunday’s 16-9 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers, Payton emphasized that he gets along well with his quarterback.

Payton remarked, “Look, I think this notion that he and I, or we, don’t get along, or he’s not a good fit, all of that stuff comes from people farther away from our program.” “You guys are practically there. I believe that people tend to just rush to a story the more removed they are from the program. For what it’s worth, he’s handled this week like we anticipated – like a pro. That concludes it.

As always, Wilson has handled the situation brilliantly. The new starting quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, appreciated the quarterback’s help prior to last week’s game.

After defeating the Chargers, Wilson and Stidham had a wonderful conversation at the start of the week. “He assured me that he would be there for me in any way. We were chatting on the sidelines following drives and other events. I have nothing but praise for him; I mentioned as much earlier this week. Fantastic person and teammate. He was really helpful all week long.

Payton has insisted that he does not have a fractured relationship with Wilson, but that hasn’t stopped speculation that Wilson will likely be released in March. That’s a storyline to keep an eye on in the coming months — and Denver’s candidacy for Hard Knocks is another topic to monitor.