30 December 2023 , 16:41
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ESPN analyst Ryan Clark waded in on the debate surrounding the behaviour of Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton in relation to quarterback Russell Wilson.
The 35 year old was controversially benched by the Broncos coach ahead of the match against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17. Coach Payton decided to use Jarrett Stidham as the starting QB instead and Wilson has expressed his belief this decision was pre-meditated.
The Super Bowl winner hinted that senior figures in the Broncos organisation threatened to keep him on the bench if he did not agree to revise his contract conditions. This allegedly happened just days after Wilson helped secure an important victory for the Broncos against the Kansas City Chiefs two months ago.
However, Coach Payton refuted these claims, saying the decision to bench Wilson was purely based on sports reasons. Despite this, Clark, a retired NFL star and ESPN expert, did not hold back in criticising Payton's handling of Wilson during an episode of ESPN's 'Get Up'.
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Accusing the coach of undermining Wilson from the start, he said: "Immediately when he gets in the building, he starts to undercut Russell Wilson personally and professionally from his first press conference on.
"He tells Russell Wilson you have to stop kissing babies and stop behaving as if you're running for office. Nobody kissed more babies in New Orleans than Drew Brees."
He also claimed the coach wanted to make an example of Wilson: "From the beginning he walked into this building and he had a point to prove with Russell Wilson - you're gonna be just like everybody else. I'm gonna treat you just like I treat everybody else on the team. That's not the way it works with franchise quarterbacks."
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The controversial decision of Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton to bench Russell Wilson has come in for criticism in recent days (Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)Despite the challenges, Wilson remains committed to the Denver Broncos: "Obviously I love being out there playing with our guys and doing whatever it takes. I think for me, I came here to play here, to win.
"I knew it was going to be a process and I signed a seven-year deal for us to go play hard. That's my goal every time I step between the white lines, to give everything I have."
"That's my goal every time I step between the white lines, to give everything I have." I want to be here, I want to play here, give everything I have," he acknowledged as he insisted that his commitment to the Broncos cause has not been shaken in the past week."
"I want to win championships here and give my all every week no matter what the circumstance is, or what the score is I want to be the best teammate and leader I can be. I told Jarrett I'd help him, lead him, do whatever it takes, and keep the guys going."
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