However is Payton simply being bombastic? Stidham, who has performed for Denver for 3 seasons, final began throughout the 2023 season whereas changing a benched Russell Wilson. The 29-year-old QB went 1-1 in two begins, finishing 40-of-66 passes for 496 yards, two landing passes and one interception. He hasn’t thrown a cross in a regular-season recreation since then.
2019 fourth-round choose Stidham, nevertheless, began his profession with the New England Patriots, the place he realized underneath former HC Invoice Belichick and present offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Curiously, he additionally hung out with Brady, which he considered as extraordinarily useful.
“It was priceless,” Stidham told ESPN’s Mike Reiss in January 2020. “He is an exceptional teammate, an exceptional particular person, clearly an exceptional participant. There was simply a lot I acquired to be taught from him. He was clearly very open to me about stuff that he is thought in regards to the recreation of soccer and stuff like that.”
Stidham — a former Auburn Tigers star — by no means grew to become Brady’s successor, however McDaniels introduced him to the Las Vegas Raiders in his second stint as a HC. He spent one season in Vegas earlier than leaving for Denver. That season, he began two video games rather than a benched Derek Carr, going 0-2, throwing for 656 yards, 4 TD passes and three picks.
Stidham’s background with the Patriots and McDaniels has impressed Payton and is one purpose he is saved him in Denver.
“I understand how he was coached in New England,” Payton mentioned. “I do know precisely how he was coached in New England, after which I understand how McDaniels felt about him when he introduced him from New England to Las Vegas.”
Payton added backup QBs have received Tremendous Bowls, together with Nick Foles with the Philadelphia Eagles throughout the 2017 season. Foles, nevertheless, tried 101 passes within the common season that 12 months. Stidham will not be as recent, making it even more durable for him to show his coach’s claims.
