Monday night’s Browns-Broncos game has an interesting subplot that traces to New Orleans.
Cleveland quarterback Jameis Winston spent two years with the Saints, working for Broncos coach Sean Payton.
Payton reflected on his time with Winston during a Wednesday press conference.
I enjoyed it,” Payton said. “Hes big. Hes tremendous in the locker room. I said this already hes got this infectious personality. [He has] a smile on his face every day hes at work. You hear him before you see him that type of guy. . . . I really enjoyed coaching him and having a chance to work with him. Hes the ultimate pro. He has natural leadership abilities, and you feel that with him. You have to remember now there were years when he was in Tampa playing against us. I hated him because that was one of the opposing teams quarterbacks, but we always had some good battles. When he came to our program, he was a sponge as a backup. . . . It will be good to shake his hand and see him after the game.
Winston was the Week 1 starter in 2021, the year after Brees retired. Winston led the Saints to a 5-2 record before tearing his ACL.
Now, Payton will be facing Winston again.
“He has tremendous arm strength,” Payton said. “He can get the ball down the field. He can get rid of it, and he can still slide up in the pocket and run. Youre defending the system in the offense and what were currently seeing. Then we look at the body of work. I dont know that theres anything Im sharing with the defense thats significant. You kind of see it on tape.
It jumps off the screen. Winston has been the best quarterback on the Cleveland roster this year. And if they’d benched Deshaun Watson for Winston earlier, Monday night’s game could have a lot to do with jockeying for the No. 7 seed in the AFC.