Horse Tracks: Will Sean Payton outsource replay challenges?

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos throws a challenge flag during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images The

Football Zone

SEE ALL

AP News

Penner pushes for a 2031 Broncos stadium, not a bigger stake in the Rockies

SB Nation

Commanders News: McLaurin, all smiles after ‘hardest year’ of his life

AP News

Former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck part of latest CTE frontier — diagnosing brain disease in the living

What is the story about?

The only real significant rule adjustment this year for officiating is a wrinkle allowing head coaches to designate another staff member to initiate challenges.

The idea, I think, is a pretty good one. Head coaches get emotional and sometimes the challenge flies before the prefrontal cortex gets fully engaged after a bad call. Tapping another cooler-headed coach on the shoulder to handle the responsibility seems sound.

While Payton isn’t by any stretch of the imagination as emotional as some coaches

we’ve seen in Denver (Vic Fangio, anyone?), I honestly wonder if his ego will let him outsource playcalling to Davis Webb and challenges in the same year.

I’m not even sold that he needs to or would even want to. As the head coach, he needs to keep his finger on the pulse of the game as a whole. He needs to be not only thinking of the play that happened, but also what the consequences of that challenge will mean for however much time remains in the game.

If a designee challenges a play and it fails, that could heavily limit their options later in a close game. I think a guy like Payton would never want to put anyone else in that position. That would be just setting someone up to earn his ire.

I’m curious to hear what the community thinks on this. Is Payton pretty decent with challenges in your eyes? Would this move help him or hinder him as our head coach? Hit up the comments and let us know what you think.