Broncos HC Sean Payton Facing Potentially Costly Punishment From NFL
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton may not get to enjoy the victory over the Kansas City Chiefs to the fullest if the NFL has any say.
Payton drew attention for the wrong reasons in Week 12, despite the Broncos defeating the Chiefs with a game-winning field goal. Moreover, it is something that will almost certainly draw a response from the league.
The veteran head coach will now have to wait and see what comes next.
NFL Could Punish Broncos HC Sean Payton
Broncos nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the third quarter of Sunday’s game. However, during the return, linesman Derick Bowers smashed into Payton because the Broncos head coach was standing on the off-limits white lines.
Typically, teams have “get-back guys” who help them avoid those situations. However, even then, that is before a play and not usually during.
At any rate, Payton received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
The Broncos never felt the sting of that penalty during the game, but only because defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers also drew a penalty on the play. Franklin-Myers was tagged for an illegal blindside block during the return, which cost the Broncos 10 yards.
However, despite the penalty being waived off, Payton can expect to hear from the league when it dishes out its weekly list of fines.
The range of fines varies depending on the type of infraction/contact made.
Sean Payton Facing Potentially Costly Fine
The NFL fined Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad $15,486 for contact with a ref in Week 7, which could be informative for Payton. Washington Commanders defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw was docked $28,555 for his infraction in Week 10. Those were both players, though.
The NFL fined Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur $14,069 for unsportsmanlike conduct in October 2024. That was for coming onto the field while trying to call a timeout.
However, Payton could face an even stiffer penalty if the league connects certain dots.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin received a $100,000 fine during the 2013 season for being on the white lines during a kick return against the Baltimore Ravens. Then, it was Ravens return man Jacoby Jones, not an official, whom Tomlin impeded.
The NFL also considered docking the Steelers’ draft picks in the 2014 cycle over the play. It did not draw a flag during the contest. They ultimately left it at a fine.
Fortunately for the Broncos, Payton did not interfere with an opposing player.
Sean Payton Roasted After Getting Penalized, Taking Big Hit
While Payton could be lighter in the pockets for his infraction, the Broncos’ head coach quickly came out on the wrong end of several jokes on social media.
“Ref just laid out Sean Payton,” Pardon My Take posted on X on November 16.
“Sean Payton just got wiped out by the ref on the sideline and got penalized for being too close to the field. Everyone looks to be OK,” Audacy Sports’ Jeff Nowak said in a post on X after the incident.
“There’s a joke in there somewhere. Looks like one of the penalty flags got thrown directly at him.”
Payton will have extra time to heal up with the Broncos on bye in Week 12.
Red Sox Linked to Former Yankees Right-Hander in Free Agency
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow
Just like every other team in the majors, the Boston Red Sox are in the market for starting pitchers this offseason. They have a good top-of-the-rotation with Garrett Crochet and Bryan Bello.
After that, there are questions as to who will fill in the rest of the rotation. They have young arms: Payton Tolle, Kyle Harrison, and Connelly Early. How many from that group will be ready to fill in the back end of the rotation in 2026? In between, they need to make some additions, whether it’s through free agency or a trade.
Boston was linked to Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline. They could kick the tires on him again this offseason. In free agency, could they make a move for a former New York Yankees right-hander?
Red Sox Linked to Free Agent Michael King
The Yankees traded Michael King to the San Diego Padres as part of the deal that brought Juan Soto to the Bronx during the 2023-24 offseason. In 2024, he was a key piece to the rotation before injuries to his shoulder and knee limited him in 2025 to just 15 starts. Mike Axisa of CBS Sports believes that if King is healthy, he would be a good fit for Boston.
“The homecoming angle always gets overplayed in free agency, but Michael King, a New England native, fits the Red Sox well on the field. He’s a high-upside starter (see: 2024) who is plenty familiar with the AL East, given his time with the Yankees, plus he’s shown he can be very effective in relief. That could come in handy come postseason time. King’s value is down because he missed time with shoulder and knee trouble in 2025, but if his health checks out, there could be an opportunity to get a difference-making starter at a discount. The homecoming would be a neat talking point on top of the baseball fit,” Axisa wrote.
In 2024, King went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA in 173.2 innings pitched and a career-high 201 strikeouts. He had a 4.1 WAR. King’s innings pitched were also a career-high. He would fit right into what the Red Sox value in an innings-eater.
Red Sox Likely to Add to Rotation From Outside Organization
Adding a starting pitcher could come either through a trade or free agency. Breslow believes that they will have options in both.
“We’ll see what the trade and free agent markets dictate,” said Breslow. “There are compelling opportunities in both, we think. We also are mindful of, while we believe we’re in a window to contend and to compete for the postseason, World Series championships, we’re also mindful of keeping one eye on the future.”
The biggest free agent names are left-hander Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros and Dylan Cease of the Padres. As far as the trade market goes, along with Ryan, the Miami Marlins have Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara. Then there is Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. Do they trade him or don’t they? Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that unless a deal blows away the Tigers, he’ll remain in Detroit for 2026.
That’s where King comes in. If Breslow is unable to acquire one of the big-name trade options or free agents, the former Yankees pitcher makes sense if healthy.
