After stepping out of bounds with personal attacks on many involved with the Broncos’ struggles last season, Sean Payton made his best attempt at damage control on Friday.
Despite having experience both in front of and behind the microphone in his career, Payton admitted that it’s an experience that he will learn from in the future.
“I had one of those moments where I still had my Fox hat and not my coaching hat,” said a contrite Payton. “Here I am the veteran stepping in it and it was a learning experience for me and it was a mistake. Obviously I need a little bit more filter.”
Denver’s new leader explained that he addressed the issue with his team and apologized for his lack of restraint.
“There is a pound of flesh for these guys, and as a coach you stick up for them but after a while we are past that season. I said what I said and obviously I needed some more restraint and I regret that,” Payton continued. “That being said, what I told the team is if that can happen, I think I am pretty good working with the media and pretty savvy and I just had one of those moments.”
Broncos HC Sean Payton said that what he said in the article yesterday was a mistake and that he regrets it.
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) July 28, 2023
Said he was still “wearing his FOX Hat” and not his “coaching hat”. pic.twitter.com/X1p4sGHi8s
Payton’s explosive comments, especially those regarding ex-Broncos coach and current Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, did not go unnoticed by ex-Broncos and current Jets offensive lineman Billy Turner or New York coach Robert Saleh.
Saleh took exception with Payton saying Hackett’s performance “might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”
“I’m not gonna acknowledge Sean. He’s been in the league a while, he can say whatever the hell he wants,” Saleh said. “But as far as what we have going on here, I kind of live by the saying: ‘If you ain’t got no haters, you ain’t popping. So hate away.’ Obviously we’re doing something right if you’ve got to talk about us when we don’t play you until [Week 5], and I’m good with it.”
With or without an apology, get your popcorn ready for the Week 5 showdown at Empower Field at Mile High.
