Broncos hire Payton after deal with Saints
The Denver Broncos have agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Saints that will make Sean Payton their head coach, a person with knowledge of the accord said Tuesday.
The Broncos would send their first-round pick, No. 29 overall, in this year's draft to the Saints along with a future secondrounder. Denver also will receive a third-round pick in the trade.
Payton remained under contract with New Orleans after stepping down from the Saints last year and working in broadcasting this season.
Payton, 59, went 152-89 in 15 seasons with the Saints and 9-8 in the playoffs. He led New Orleans to a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl following the 2009 season. He stepped away last year when quarterback Drew Brees retired.
The Broncos, who went 5-12 in 2022 and extended their playoff drought to seven years, fired rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Dec. 26 after he went 4-11. Interim head coach Jerry Rosburg went 1-1.
Payton's top task will be to get quarterback Russell Wilson back to his winning ways after the 11-year pro had his worst statistical season following his blockbuster trade from Seattle for four premium draft picks and three players.
Rodgers to decide soon: Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he doesn't expect to make a decision on whether to play next season until after the Super Bowl.
Rodgers, 39, has said he is still making up his mind on whether he wants to return to the Packers for a 19th season, retire or request a trade. The fourtime MVP also has noted the possibility the Packers might want to move him.
“It's going to be a little more time for my decision,” Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on SiriusXM and YouTube.
Rodgers was asked if he would decide on his plans and would then call the Packers, who would then let him know what they're thinking.
“I think so,” Rodgers said. “It sounds like there's already conversations going on that aren't involving me, which are interesting." Briefly: The NFL's salary cap will be $224.8 million in 2023, an increase of $16.6 million. Overall, the cap is up $42.3 million from 2021. ... Atlanta coach Arthur Smith hired Jerry Gray, 60, a 26-year NFL coaching veteran, as the assistant head coach for defense . ... Tennessee says it is tearing up the grass field at Nissan Stadium and replacing it with a synthetic surface before the 2023 season. The Titans say they are making the change after reviewing injury rates and knowing how difficult it is to grow grass at the stadium, which opened in 1999.