Jets' Allen Lazard addresses comments from Broncos' Sean Payton

It's clear that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton will have to answer for his recent comments about current New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett beyond this month. 

"Hackett is the best teacher I’ve ever had in my life," Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard said on Monday, as shared by Antwan Staley of the New York Daily News. "His personality, his style of teaching, coaching, his vulnerability just to be himself, I think it’s very powerful and it speaks to high regard of him being comfortable with himself." 

Payton sparked the most unexpected AFC rivalry of the upcoming season when he blasted Hackett in a piece published last week and said his predecessor with Denver was responsible for what "might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL" last year. The Broncos hired Hackett in January 2022 but then dismissed him in late December when the team was 4-11. 

Payton attempted to walk his original remarks back ahead of this past weekend and expressed regret for taking such shots at a fellow member of the coaching community. That did not, however, stop Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers from firing back at Payton while speaking with NFL Network's Peter Schrager on Sunday. 

"It made me feel bad that someone who has accomplished a lot in the league is that insecure that they have to take another man down to set themselves up for some sort of easy fall if it doesn't go well for that team this year," Rodgers said at that time. "I thought it was out of line, inappropriate and I think he needs to keep my coaches' names out of his mouth."

Like Rodgers, Lazard first had Hackett as an offensive coordinator when all three were with the Green Bay Packers from 2019 through the 2021 season. 

"I think what Aaron said spoke for everyone here," Lazard added on Monday. "At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We have bigger things to worry about..."

The Broncos host the Jets at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 5 on Oct. 8. Gang Green may not have that game circled on the calendar as of the final day of July, but it seems unlikely that will be a standard non-divisional conference matchup for the visitors that Sunday afternoon.