There are plenty of good things in Denver that we can be thankful for.
The start of training camp for the Denver Broncos has an interesting feel this season.
As Ian St. Clair and I sat down to record Odds and Endzones, he decided to ask me a question, and it was a good one.
With all the positives from last year, “does that make you twitch?”
Ian knows me. I am a twitchy fan. I don’t like to swim in positivity. I don’t talk trash with opposing fans. I avoid any feelings that might give me hope, as it can only end in disaster. I am the guy who kept reminding everyone that there was too much time left during the end of Super Bowl XXXII and 50 (XXXIII was never in doubt).
So my response to this excellent question was a quick and confident, “No.”
And the reason for that answer can be seen in so many aspects of what the Broncos did in the 2024 season. The players who Ian mentions in the show, and players that he doesn’t. I’ll let you decide who else he needed to include, as the list is only as short as it is because of the time constraints. But those players aren’t the real reason for my answer.
The one thing that gives me the confidence to look at the 2025 Denver Broncos and not fear my own positivity? Sean Payton.
Yes, it is a cliche. It might seem obvious, but the stability and direction that Payton has imbued in Broncos Country is hard to ignore.
From the moment of his arrival, it was clear that he had a vision for what he wanted to do with this franchise. His vision has brought the team to a point where the fans can feel excited about a young QB who is becoming the face of the franchise.
The direction Payton (along with George Paton) has gone in acquiring and drafting players continues to put Denver in the conversation of the playoffs. And more than that, it has put them in the conversation for the potential to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs from their AFC West title streak.
The season is still a long way off. But has there been this kind of excitement for the fans in the last 10 years? Nope.
And so the confidence is real, and it is high. I can’t wait to see how Sean Payton’s vision continues to playout.