Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos · Locked On Podcast Network, Cody Roark, Sayre Bedinger

HONOR ROLL: Denver Broncos NFLPA Report Card Grades Reflect PROMISING Team Direction

·32 min·2 clips

Sean Payton ranks 29th out of 32 coaches in locker room feedback—why do players grade him so low?

This episode analyzes the Denver Broncos' 2025 NFLPA team report card grades, which were leaked to ESPN's Kaylin Collar. Hosts Cody Roark, a credentialed Broncos reporter, and Sarah Bettinger, a site expert, provide context for the player survey results. Head coach Sean Payton received a B grade for the second consecutive year, ranking 26th out of 32 coaches. His specific rankings were 27th in efficiency with time and 29th in receptiveness to locker room feedback on team needs. The hosts note that several fired coaches received higher grades than Payton, while AFC West counterpart Jim Harbaugh received a C-plus. Broncos ownership, the Walton-Penner family, earned an A+ grade, up from an A the previous year. General Manager George Paton, graded for the first time in this category, received an A from the players. The team's locker room at the facility received a D grade, an improvement from an F, primarily due to space and privacy issues. Treatment of families improved from a C- to a B, credited to the team creating a post-game family meeting space. The home game field at Empower Field at Mile High earned an A grade from players. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who is no longer with the team, received an A- grade, higher than Payton's. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph earned an A, while special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi received an A-. The hosts suggest Payton's lower grade stems from his deliberate "bad cop" role, setting a demanding standard while his coordinators act as "good cops." They argue players may accept less comfort for on-field success, citing the team's 15-win season and AFC Championship game appearance. The ownership's A+ is attributed to their hands-on, non-meddling approach and commitment to resources, including a new team facility opening in May. The Broncos improved their grade in eight categories from the previous year's report card. The discussion is analytical and conversational, blending specific data with insider perspective on team dynamics. It balances critique of low grades with explanations rooted in organizational philosophy and recent team success. Listeners interested in the Broncos' internal culture, front-office operations, and nuanced player-coach relationships will find this episode valuable. Those seeking only game analysis or breaking news might find the detailed organizational review less engaging.

As heard by us

A report-card episode that feels like a real Broncos progress check, not just a grade recap.

Locked On Broncos uses the leaked NFLPA report card to take a wider look at where the franchise is headed, and the daily format fits that kind of check-in.

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Why you'd press play

You want the Broncos' report card read like a real football argument.

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