Insider reveals why Broncos GM George Paton's job is '100% safe'
Although the Broncos missed the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season, general manager George Paton reportedly will get a mulligan because he didn't want to sign Russell Wilson to a long-term contract.
Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado said on Twitter that "Paton wanted to wait" before extending Wilson's contract. However, the team's new owners, the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, overruled him.
Allbright also added that Paton is "100% safe" and is "respected as one of the top GMs around the league."
They made a mistake. Wilson threw only 11 touchdown passes — tied for 25th in the league — through 12 starts.
Not all blame falls on Wilson. The offense sputtered throughout the season, ranking last in scoring over 13 games (14.9 points per contest). Giving him an expensive deal shrinks cap space, limiting Paton's ability to improve the roster in free agency.
Spotrac projects a tight financial future for Denver in 2023. According to the site, Denver will rank 14th in total cap space with $20.3 million.
The costly decision also taints the perception toward the ownership group, who face the difficult task of succeeding Hall of Famer Pat Bowlen, who guided the Broncos to three Super Bowl titles.
"W.W.P.D? What Would Pat Do? Bowlen would get rid of all the rascals," wrote longtime Denver sportswriter Woody Paige.
Denver (3-10) hasn't won a game since the end of October. If the Broncos fail to win another, they will finish with the worst record in modern franchise history.
The ownership group must learn to be more patient. Otherwise, the transition could cause a complete unraveling.
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