Is Sean Payton courting a bad look for Broncos' ownership?

Sean Payton. Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Is Sean Payton courting another bad look for Broncos' ownership?

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 1/27/23

Sean Payton adamantly denied a Washington Post report that he's out of the running for the Broncos' head-coaching job because he had an issue with Denver's ownership group.

"Zero truth to this," the former Saints coach tweeted.

But the report is seemingly another bad look for the reputation of the Broncos.

On Thursday, the Washington Post's Mark Maske tweeted that Payton "feared a potential power struggle with a member of the ownership group" after Denver interviewed him.

The Panthers are no longer an option for Sean Payton. And there was an issue with Payton's interview with the Broncos. Payton likes the idea of coaching Russell Wilson and having that defense but fears a potential power struggle with a member of the ownership group, source says.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) January 26, 2023

The lack of experience within the ownership group may deter top HC candidates. The Broncos ownership is a six-person group, including Walmart heir Rob Walton, Walmart chairman Greg Penner and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

None has experience running a professional sports franchise.

The ownership group already made a mistake when it signed Russell Wilson to a five-year contract extension with $165 million guaranteed.

Wilson, 34, flopped in his first season, posting career lows in passing TDS (16), completion percentage (60.5) and a 37 QBR, well below the league average. He's a major question surrounding the job.

The impulsivity of the leadership group likely pushed away qualified candidates, too.

Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh and Dallas DC Dan Quinn briefly showed interest before returning to their current jobs.

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