Dre Greenlaw had quite the day on Sunday, making life difficult for the Denver Broncos. After contributing significantly to the San Francisco 49ers’ 24-14 victory over his former team, he made sure head coach Sean Payton knew about it.
With 12 tackles and a forced fumble in the game, Greenlaw had to be pulled away from Payton post-game by teammate Fred Warner. It seems like merely winning wasn’t enough for him; he had some unresolved feelings to express.
In a chat with a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle, Greenlaw revealed that Payton hadn’t reached out to him since Week 12 of the previous season, and he found out about his release through his agent.
“He couldn’t be man-to-man and call my phone and say, ‘We’re going to cut you,’” Greenlaw remarked. It’s curious, given Payton’s knack for dealing with the media, that he wouldn’t have communicated directly in this situation.
Sean Payton’s Coaching Reputation
If you’ve followed my columns, you might already know I’ve deemed Payton overrated for some time—long before he took on the role in Denver. Greenlaw’s anger just reinforces my stance.
Let’s be real: Sean Payton is not the coaching genius so many claim him to be. If you’re sick of hearing me say that, imagine my frustration as I continually hear him praised as if he’s the best in the game. He knows how to charm the press, nurturing positive relationships, which, let’s face it, often leads to overly favorable coverage.
Remember when there was talk about Payton’s enthusiasm for Bo Nix’s potential, likened to the excitement he had for Patrick Mahomes? That’s exactly the kind of narrative manipulation I mean.
Conflicts with Other Coaches
Then there’s Mike Macdonald, coach of the Seahawks, who experienced his own issues with Payton. A dispute escalated to the point where Seattle threatened to sue. Macdonald said they were studying publicly accessible fan videos to prepare for an upcoming game. This triggered Payton to accuse them of cheating—and later, he acknowledged he should have checked the footage’s origin.
It’s ironic when the guy who faced a season-long suspension for Bountygate turns around and plays the vigilante without the facts. While Macdonald publicly backed down, calling him a “phenomenal football coach” and both claimed to have moved past the incident, it doesn’t rescind the absurdity of Payton’s actions.
The True Impact of Drew Brees
Another aspect that often gets overlooked is how much credit Drew Brees deserves in this equation. Contrary to popular belief, Payton didn’t turn a grocery store worker into a star quarterback. Brees was already a Pro Bowl-level player in San Diego before their time together.
In 2004, two years before they joined forces, Brees had an impressive season, completing over 65% of his passes. So yes, Payton deserves a nod for their achievements, but it’s puzzling why people act as if he created Brees rather than recognizing that Brees elevated him.
During Payton’s tenure with the Saints, they made it to the playoffs nine times and won a Super Bowl, but he also had six seasons without a playoff berth while Brees was around. After stepping away from the Saints in early 2022, the roster suffered under his watch before he took over in Denver.
Now, sure, the Broncos made it to the AFC Championship last season, but the context matters. The AFC’s top quarterbacks faced significant injuries that year, making it a somewhat atypical scenario.
Doubts About Payton’s Leadership
People often fixate on Payton’s Super Bowl win back in 2009, but let’s not forget the season-long suspension he faced due to Bountygate. That part rarely comes up in discussions about his leadership.
And about this “quarterback whisperer” reputation—he handpicked Bo Nix, yet Nix hasn’t shown much progress and, arguably, has regressed in several areas over the seasons.
When it comes to developing talent, it’s only fair to hold Payton accountable if his selected players, like Nix, start performing poorly.
For what it’s worth, I’d rather rely on offensive minds like Sean McVay, Kevin O’Connell, and Ben Johnson for building an offense today. The game has evolved, and so should our perception of coaching greatness.
Greenlaw’s Grievance
Returning to Greenlaw, it’s valid for him to expect a personal phone call after the way things ended. Payton’s public comments after the game were warm, but it feels a bit hollow—he praised Greenlaw but didn’t address the lack of communication directly.
Ironically, Greenlaw’s message to Payton post-game—”get the f*** off the field”—was straightforward, to say the least. After the victory and his performance, it’s clear he wasn’t in the mood for subtleties.
And honestly, kudos to Greenlaw for confronting Payton directly. It adds a layer of authenticity to an otherwise scripted narrative.
