Why did Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and head coach Sean Payton argue on the sideline?
The Broncos quarterback and his head coach were seen in a heated exchange but by all accounts, everything is fine in Denver after three straight wins.
On a night when the team trounced its opponent, one would think there would be little reason for complaint. Yet that wasn’t the case between the Broncos’ rookie signal caller and the head coach who apparently have the same intense desire to win.
Bo Nix & Sean Payton got into it but everything is OK
Sunday night saw the Denver Broncos improve to 3-2 on the season so far after dismantling the Las Vegas Raiders 34-18 at Empower Field at Mile High. The win, it must be said, was in no small part due to the performance of rookie quarterback Bo Nix who went 19-of-27 for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for a score. Mention should also be made of star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who notched two interceptions, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown.
Yet, be that as it may, there was one moment in the game that drew attention and not because of the Broncos’ stellar play but rather an altercation that occurred between Nix and Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Indeed, with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, the pair got into a heated exchange following an incomplete play - receiver Troy Franklin dropped Nix’s pass in the end zone. While it remains unclear as to exactly what was said, Payton himself appeared to downplay the situation in his postgame review. “It’s part of the deal,” said the 61-year-old. Payton also went on to compare Nix to Ferris Bueller, the titular character of the 1986 classic film about a rebellious teenager, “Ferris Beuller’s Day Off.”
As for Nix, the 24-year-old didn’t give away much when asked for details of the exchange between himself and Payton.”He turned and looked at me and said ‘I love you’ and I turned and said ‘I love you’ back.’” When asked to expand, Nix simply explained that any aggression that was observed between he and Payton was just about their intense desire to win. Of course, the No. 12 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft also addressed the Ferris Beuller reference, explaining that he had seen the film a few times. “I watched the movie, I think that’s funny,” he said. “We’re just out there with great competitiveness and fire. We can have those conversations and move right back along and score another few touchdowns, and it doesn’t bother us.”
Truthfully, that appears to be the case as the Dolphins were up 34-10 by the fourth quarter with Nix being responsible for three touchdowns in total. Having not registered a single touchdown pass in his first four games in the NFL, it would appear that the rookie is finding his feet. To that end, it just may be that there are good times ahead in Denver. Indeed, that would certainly be ideal given the team’s shaky record at the moment. Up next for the Nix and Co. is a date with Los Angeles Chargers on October 13th. Don’t miss it.