Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton and Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston have exchanged compliments ahead of their Monday Night Football showdown in Week 13.
Payton coached Winston with the New Orleans Saints from 2020-2021 and they went 5-2 when Winston started seven games in 2021. Payton praised Winston for his leadership and “infectious personality” earlier this week.
Winston has also praised Payton. The quarterback was asked on Wednesday to measure the biggest impact Payton had on him.
“I would say his aura,” Winston said. “His essence, him being authentically himself. And I think that won me over so much because from a head coach perspective, I haven’t really seen that much personality in my head coach… Bruce Arians was a great example, he did have personality… but that was my first year with him, so it was kind of like a feel out process. I’ve known him since I grew up.
“But what Sean possessed was a leadership quality that was so important to our team, at New Orleans Saints, because, I’ve always put Drew (Brees) on this pedestal, and I knew it was Drew’s team, but in a sense, Sean was one of our biggest leaders, our hardest workers, and definitely he was a leader among men, and that’s how I put it. He was one of the best leaders I’ve been around.”
Payton has the Broncos at 7-5 and within reach of a playoff berth this season. A win against the Browns on Monday would put Denver one step closer to the postseason.
