The Denver Broncos officially reported for training camp, with players arriving officially on Tuesday. As players reported, Broncos head coach Sean Payton addressed the media prior to the team’s annual media barbeque to set the tone for this upcoming season.

Denver Broncos HC Sean Payton unfazed by outside expectations

With all players officially reporting to Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, Sean Payton met with the media and took questions as the team prepares for their first official practice, which kicks off on Wednesday. The team will conduct two acclimation practices on Wednesday and Thursday before Friday’s first official public practice in front of Broncos Country.

Payton was short, sweet, and to the point when meeting with the media as he looks to get the Broncos back on the winning track after going 8-9 during his first season last year. Despite Denver’s climb back into the playoff race last year after their 1-5 start, most pundits and sportsbooks don’t have high expectations for the team as they project the Broncos over/under on wins at 5.5.

Payton doesn’t care about that and doesn’t have time to care about that as he looks to build a competitive roster with a handful of young players as the team moves forward into 2024.

“Look, if I spent time on that in 2006, we would have never gone to the NFC Championship game, and I mean that seriously, back in my first years as the head coach in New Orleans,” Payton said. “I don’t have time to spend time on that, nor do I wish to spend time on it. I understand they have a job to do and where we’re selected and none of that means anything. It’s stuff to talk about when the media cycle is quiet. We’ll get ready to play and we expect to compete, and we expect to win.”

Coaches have more important things to worry about and Payton’s focus is in the right areas on the eve of the team’s first practice.

For one, the QB competition between Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson will be the biggest day-to-day storyline as the season inches closer. During OTAs and minicamp, Payton rotated all three with the first team offense and plans to do that once again, mixing up the reps until the competition organically plays itself out.

“We’ll mix it up again,” Payton said. “Obviously, it won’t stay that way for the long term. As we get started, we will keep you posted. Eventually, we will settle into the routine we want.”

It all begins tomorrow as the Denver Broncos kick off their first practice of training camp.