As recently as last week, some in the media suggested there might be a way for the Broncos and quarterback Russell Wilson to continue their relationship in 2024, but that hasn't happened. That won't happen.
The moment Wilson went to the bench, the die was cast. The decision to put him on the sideline before Denver is mathematically ruled out of the 2023 postseason is, in coach Sean Payton's opinion, a declaration to the world that he is not a franchise quarterback. become.
I mean, they don't want to pay him a similar salary. That means they won't pay him his fully guaranteed $37 million in 2025. They already owe him $39 million in 2024. They intend to waive him after the league year begins, designate this transfer as a post-June 1 deal, and increase the cap value. Move on.
That's what's happening. If I had to choose one, recent statements We saw it from Wilson to Brandon Marshall. Wilson asked whether the Broncos asked him to waive the injury guarantee (they didn't) and whether the NFL acknowledged that the request to postpone the 2025 injury guarantee vesting date was “unlawful” He's said enough to piss off the Broncos about what happened (and they'll say it never happened).
If you have any doubts, consider this quote from Payton during Tuesday's press conference held in conjunction with the scouting combine.
“I saw this humorous meme the other day where a Broncos fan was drinking the quarterback Kool-Aid wearing a shirt with about eight quarterbacks' names crossed over,” Payton said. Told. “Our job is to make sure there are no lines in the next piece.”
The next one.
. Next. One.
This is the closest the Broncos have come to convincingly parting ways with Russ. It will be interesting to see where he goes next. It will be interesting to see what the Broncos do next.
An interesting offseason just gets even more interesting.
