ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) 鈥 Bo Nix and Sean Payton downplayed their most recent sideline exchange as each presented his version of events.
The Denver Broncos quarterback maintained that what appeared to be a heated conversation Sunday at Indianapolis wasn’t so much volatile as volume-related. His coach said it was simply a matter trying to get an explanation following a play.
鈥淔or whatever reason, we鈥檙e allowing conversations to become bigger than what they are,鈥 Nix said Wednesday, three days after the moment between him and Payton went viral on a field goal as time expired.
Nix added the moment had more to do with not being able to hear over the noise.
鈥淲e oftentimes forget that it鈥檚 a big stadium and a lot of people are talking at same time,” said Nix, the 12th overall pick out of Oregon in the 2024 NFL draft. 鈥淪o you’ve got to be a little bit louder and more vocal.鈥
The kerfuffle happened late in the third quarter as Nix came off the field following an incomplete pass to Evan Engram to force a punt. Payton appeared to ask Nix something as his QB walked past him toward the bench. Payton then took a few steps in the direction of Nix, who turned around and uttered something to his coach while gesturing with his hands. Nix then walked away.
鈥淭hat was just something as simple as he asked me what happened on a play,鈥 Nix said. 鈥淚 told him, I turned, he couldn鈥檛 quite hear, turned back and told him again. There were no issues. It鈥檚 just a quick conversation with the head coach. Nothing pressing.鈥
Payton minimized the situation, too.
鈥淚 saw what you guys saw. That wasn鈥檛 what it appeared, though,鈥 Payton said. 鈥淚t was an affirmation of, 鈥楾his is what we鈥檙e wanting to do.鈥 ... I think it was more about excitement, but I saw it.
鈥淚 guess what I鈥檓 saying is I don鈥檛 think it was what it appeared. In fact, I know it wasn鈥檛.鈥
Nix and Payton October after the QB went off-script against the Los Vegas Raiders.
Payton was hot and Nix hollered back. After that particular dust-up, Payton said of his then rookie QB: 鈥淭here is still a little bit of Ferris Bueller in him we are trying to get rid of. I love him to death. And sometimes (what you saw) is my love language.鈥
One thing Nix won’t be toning down is his aggressive nature on the football field. He had two interceptions and a fumble in a over Tennessee. He threw three TD passes against the Colts but also a costly interception in the fourth quarter with the team in field-goal range.
鈥淔or me, I鈥檓 always going to be aggressive, especially with our defense, knowing that they can go out there and get a stop,鈥 Nix said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 play the game, you can鈥檛 play the position, soft. You have to go out there and be aggressive.
“If you鈥檙e scared to make a bad play, it鈥檚 usually when the bad plays happen.鈥
___
AP NFL:
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation