ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey was asked for his thoughts on how coach Sean Payton would be on game day now that he's not calling offensive plays. McGlinchey paused before giving an open-ended answer.
"I guess it's to be determined," the veteran right tackle said while starting to smile.
Other than quarterback Bo Nix's surgically repaired right ankle, there has been no Broncos topic discussed more this offseason than Payton ceding playcalling duties to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb. It's a break from nearly 20 years of precedent, as Payton has doubled as head coach and playcaller since being hired by the New Orleans Saints in 2006.
Except for the occasional change of pace and extenuating circumstances -- like when Payton suffered a fractured tibia and torn MCL in a sideline collision in 2011 -- this is marked departure from the coach's long-time routine. And until the Broncos play a regular-season game, it's hard for those around Payton to say how it will play out.
"Look, everybody knows there's 'Game-day Sean,' that intensity in games, that's no secret," said a former Payton assistant coach. "I'm sure [Webb] is going to see that because he's already seen it when Sean was calling plays -- we all have if you work for him. But Sean may not even know how it will go when it's two-minute, need-a-field-goal-to-win."