Russell Wilson given brutal home truths by Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has given quarterback Russell Wilson some brutal home truths ahead of the 2023 NFL season, advising the 34-year-old to focus on the football and less on his public image.
"Will you f***ing stop kissing all the babies," Peyton ruthlessly told Wilson, according to ESPN. "You're not running for public office."
The comments come as Payton tries to rejuvenate the Broncos, who endured a torrid 2022 campaign following Wilson's blockbuster trade from the Seattle Seahawks. The team sank to 5-12 under then-head coach Nathaniel Hackett, disappointing the offseason playoff hopes. Payton also showed a video of a 2022 Ford Bronco driving off a cliff to give Wilson and his teammates a much-needed wake-up call.
Wilson is seen as an unofficial ambassador and spokesperson for the NFL, and he has even been spotted sitting next to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the last two Super Bowls. And it's clear Payton believes the nine-time Pro Bowler appears to be more focused on business than football.
Wilson's agent Mark Rodgers revealed that the QB spoke more about his legacy, foundations, and businesses than the sport of which he is one of the best in his position.
Joe Burrow backs Patrick Mahomes after Kansas City Chiefs reach Super Bowl
"It was extraordinary, Rodgers said. "It wasn't about football and baseball. It was about a legacy. It was about a foundation. It was about businesses. It was about owning a team someday, an NFL team. It was about building an empire."
The Broncos star has also been slammed, alongside his wife, by pundits for acting like " Jay-Z and Beyonce " at awards ceremonies. NFL Network's Kyle Brandt also savaged Wilson as a "poser" and not authentic. Brandt went on to highlight how at the NFL Honors Awards, Wilson and his wife Ciara would decline to speak to people.
Head coach Sean Payton is hoping to turn Denver's fortunes around following a horrible 2022 campaign (Getty)The TV personality said: "You know I work the NFL Honors and Kelce comes by, [Aaron] Rodgers comes by, Russell Wilson shows up with his sunglasses and his wife and I think they think that they're Jay-Z and Beyonce."
Payton will be hoping that his harsh words and Ford Bronco visual will reignite the fire inside Wilson and Denver's belly. Wilson threw for 3,524 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions - arguably his worst season to date. An injury also brought his season to an early end.
Denver had a mixed preseason, losing narrowly to the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers, before demolishing the Los Angeles Rams 41-0. The Broncos' season will start on Sept. 10 at home against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
