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Sean Payton didn’t listen to the critics in 2006 when he inherited a Saints team that went 3-13 the previous year and then led them to an NFC title game.
Nearly two decades later, Payton still doesn’t entertain the outside noise.
Entering his second season as Denver’s head coach, Payton knew the challenge that awaited him. The Broncos released Russell Wilson and swallowed more than half of his $85 million dead cap hit. Safety Justin Simmons, the team’s respected leader, was let go. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was sent to Cleveland. And there wasn’t much cap space to fill in the blanks.