LONDON (AP) \u2014 Broncos coach Sean Payton’s \u201cculture of high expectations\u201d has changed the trajectory of the team since the last time Denver played in London, owner and CEO Greg Penner said Friday.<\/p>\n
In a state-of-the-Broncos media session, Penner praised Payton’s impact, addressed his willingness to reward young standout players and confirmed the team would love to host a Super Bowl at its planned new stadium.<\/p>\n
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The Broncos are in town to face the New York Jets<\/a> on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, looking to follow up on their 21-17 victory<\/a> over the Philadelphia Eagles that improved their record to 3-2.<\/p>\n Three years ago, they beat the Jaguars by the same score at Wembley Stadium to snap a four-game losing streak, but the joy was short-lived. Then-coach Nathaniel Hackett didn’t last the season<\/a> \u2014 he was fired after a 4-11 start.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re a completely different team,\u201d Penner said of the Broncos squad in the English capital this week. \u201cDifferent leadership, different quarterback.<\/p>\n \u201cSince that time, bringing in Sean and having him really build a strong culture of high expectations, winning, competitiveness \u2014 we\u2019re on a different trajectory,\u201d he said at the team’s hotel in Ware, north of London.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Payton, who led the New Orleans Saints to a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl to cap the 2009 season, was hired in early 2023<\/a>. A little over a year later, they drafted Bo Nix and the rookie quarterback helped the Broncos end an eight-year playoff drought<\/a>.<\/p>\n The team has shown a willingness to pay big money to keep talented players<\/a>, such as outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, who enters the game tied for the NFL lead with seven sacks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to be a place that young players can come, they can develop, and if they are on that track and they are doing things the right way, we\u2019re going to reward them with contracts, and we want them here long term,\u201d Penner said.<\/p>\n The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group bought the franchise in August 2022 for a then-record $4.65 billion.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Broncos want to host Super Bowl in new stadium<\/p>\n The team recently announced Burnham Yard as the preferred site for a proposed new stadium. The target completion date is the 2031 season, which the team has said aligns with the expiration of their lease at Empower Field at Mile High.<\/p>\n NFL owners usually try to host a Super Bowl in their new stadiums.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d certainly be excited about that,\u201d Penner said. “As we\u2019re thinking about the stadium, our first and primary focus is on what\u2019s best for our team, our players and our fans. Then you get to the next step of, OK, we want to have some flexibility. It\u2019s the reason why we\u2019re looking at a retractable roof.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cOur intent is for our football games to be played with the roof open, in the elements. The exception will be to close the roof,\u201d he added. \u201cIt would give us the flexibility to host events like Super Bowls, concerts, other events.\u201d<\/p>\n Leicester Panthers reunion<\/p>\n Payton, who spoke this week about his one season as a quarterback in England<\/a>, met up with some of his old Leicester Panthers teammates on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve all gotten older,” he flatly noted.<\/p>\n