Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Columnist rips Broncos HC Sean Payton for benching Russell Wilson

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 12/28/23

On Wednesday, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton claimed he benched quarterback Russell Wilson because his team needed a "spark." However, others disagree and think he's throwing him under the bus.

"With arrogance as ugly as it is unfounded, Broncos coach Sean Payton tapped into another page Wednesday from his big jerk playbook," wrote The Denver Post's Mark Kiszla. "He took the football away from Russell Wilson, because Wilson now serves Payton better as a scapegoat than a quarterback."

Although the Broncos offense has struggled — ranking 16th in the NFL in points scored (21.8) — Wilson's numbers are solid. Through 15 games, he completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 3,070 yards, 26 TDs, eight picks and an above-average 98 passer rating.

Benching the nine-time Pro Bowler — who has a five-year, $242.5M contract — is a financial decision. Per Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz, Denver threatened to bench the 35-year-old in October if he didn't remove an injury guarantee ($37M), which becomes fully guaranteed in 2025 if he's still on the roster next season.

Sources to @BleacherReport: The #Broncos threatened to bench Russell Wilson weeks ago if he didn’t remove his injury guarantees.

Russell Wilson’s benching by the Broncos today is solely financially related and has been in the works for weeks, per multiple sources with direct… pic.twitter.com/pmq172Cm1H
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 27, 2023

"This move stinks of money," wrote Kiszla. "Worse, it reeks of retribution by Payton, who blew a must-win game against New England [in Week 16] by calling two stupid timeouts late in the fourth quarter, then tries to play us all for fools by blaming Wilson."

The Broncos (7-8) will probably miss the postseason for an eighth consecutive season. Per ESPN FPI (Football Power Index), they have a 4.1 percent chance to make the playoffs.

If backup Jarrett Stidham flops Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers (5-10), it will prove Wilson isn't the team's only problem, and the HC is also contributing to them.

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