Colin Cowherd believes NFL intentionally ‘punishing’ Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Credit: Denver Broncos; FS1 Sean Payton is the only NFL head coach to be suspended for an entire season, but Colin Cowherd thinks the league is still out for even more revenge. It’s been 14 years since Payton was suspended for the 2012 NFL season as head coach of the New Orleans Saints because of his role in the team’s bounty scandal. And now that he’s head coach of the Denver Broncos, Payton is still often at odds with the NFL for his willingness to be critical of their rules and policies.
Because of that, Cowherd believes the Broncos’ tough regular-season schedule is no coincidence. “I’m not a conspiracy guy, but I believe this. I think Sean Payton has a mixed relationship with the league office…NFL does not like friendly fire.
Zip it. Look at Denver’s schedule, they’re punishing them” – Colin Cowherd pic. twitter.
com/m9GSIzRKb2 — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 15, 2026 “I’m not a conspiracy guy,” Cowherd insisted, “but I believe this. I think Sean Payton has a mixed relationship with the league office. He’s taken shots at quarterbacks , he’s taken shots at coaches .
NFL does not like friendly fire. Zip it. “Look at Denver’s schedule, they’re punishing them.