DeMeco Ryans vs. Sean Payton: Did the Broncos want Texans New Coach More?

NFL media reported that before closing the deal with Payton, Broncos brass made a final play for Ryans, who had already chosen the Texans over Denver.

The Houston Texans got their man. But did the Broncos?

There has been some debate regarding that very subject since the Texans hired DeMeco Ryans as head coach. Did the Broncos "settle" for Sean Payton?

NFL media reported that before closing the deal with Payton, Broncos brass made a final play for Ryans, who had already chosen the Texans over Denver.

During Monday’s press conference officially introducing Payton as the new head coach in Denver, CEO Greg Penner was asked about the reported run at Ryans.

“I can comment [on that],” Penner said. “That wasn’t the case. Again, we met with a number of great candidates throughout the process. Once we locked in on Sean about five or six days before we got the trade done with the Saints, our focus was entirely on him and closing that.”

One source close to the situation told PFF that the story of a final run at Ryans was a "complete fabrication."

“Oftentimes in our league, organizations win the day when they hire their head coach,” Payton said. “They want to win the day during the draft. I’ve never seen a G.M. or head coach come down and say, ‘We didn’t get our guy,’ or ‘Gosh dang it, someone just jumped in front of us, and we had to settle on Bill.’ You don’t say that, right? You say we got our guy.”

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