Broncos Say They'll Finalize Russell Wilson Decision (They've Already Made) In Two Weeks

INDIANAPOLIS – There are words that describe what the Denver Broncos say they're doing in reaching the final stages of a decision on quarterback Russell Wilson:

Thoughtful study comes to mind.

Sober contemplation is also a possibility.

Or charade.

Can't eliminate charade because on Tuesday at the NFL combine the Broncos continued to insist they have not decided what to do about Wilson in trading or releasing him. 

Russell Wilson had a disappointing 2023 season. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)

Sean Payton Meeting With Ownership

The Broncos would have us believe they haven't even decided whether Wilson will be back in 2024 with the team or not.

That call won't come for another two weeks.

"[Next] Tuesday, Wednesday, we'll be in meetings with ownership," coach Sean Payton at the combine told a gathering of media outlets, including OutKick. " I expect we're going to know fairly quickly. I said it at the Super Bowl, but more specifically, somewhere in the neighborhood [of] next week."

Sometime Tuesday or Wednesday, Payton and general manager George Paton will meet with Broncos CEO Greg Penner and perhaps Carrie Walton Penner, and then they will all arrive at a decision on Wilson's future.

And who believes this?

Ownership is going to hear what Payton and Paton want to do. Ownership will not overrule what the two football men want to do.

There is basically no scenario in which business people, no matter how rich, force a coach and general manager to work with a player who is basically the most important one on the roster. Not when they have no long history with the player.

Broncos reportedly paying Sean Payton at least $17 million. (Credit: Getty Images)

No One Is Changing Payton's Mind

Come to think of it, no ownership in recent memory forced its coach and general manager to keep a player with whom ownership has a long history.

Consider that Robert Kraft didn't do that in New England with Tom Brady when Bill Belichick told him the quarterback's best days were behind him.

Kraft let his football people make a football decision.

And that's how it will play out in Denver.

And as to Payton and Paton making that decision: They crossed that proverbial Rubicon long ago.

They are basically using the combine to interview quarterback prospects and talk to other clubs about a Wilson trade. Paton said Tuesday "I haven't heard anything from any teams," on the matter.

But that's merely a matter of timing and he will reach out to teams in the coming days. If he doesn't, he would be guilty of personnel man malpractice.

So, the Broncos are building a stronger case for moving on from Wilson. They simply cannot have the end of the season they did – with Wilson benched the final two games – and walk that back for 2024.

Denver Broncos general manager George Paton. (Getty Images)

No Contact From Teams Yet

It would be admitting they made a huge mistake.

Payton, meanwhile, is insisting the decison isn't made and all the factors have yet to be weighed. 

"There are several factors here,'' he said. "The cap projections came out, we're further down the road with the draft class, obviously the pro free agents, so I would anticipate [the decision] within the next two weeks."

Multiple teams at this combine have quarterback questions. And, the thing is, all of them know what general direction they're headed.

So the Broncos are the exception? No way.

If Denver's general direction includes having the starting quarterback return they have a strange way of relaying that message because no one said that Tuesday. 

That's because they're headed in a different direction.