Renck: In Walton-Penner ownership group, Broncos have found their next Pat Bowlen, but they do it their own way

Sean Payton stood in the center of the locker room, making eye contact with the circle of players around him. It was quiet as he spoke, other than a few, “Yes sirs.” Just nods and focused eyes.

Payton has made this speech hundreds of times, but this one carried special meaning. It represented his first playoff berth with the Broncos, and he wasn’t about to miss.

He cut through the smoke, figurative and literal, by presenting four game balls that help explain why the Broncos have a game this Sunday in Buffalo.

One by one Payton thanked franchise owners Rob Walton, Carrie Walton Penner, Condoleezza Rice and Greg Penner.

There were anecdotes for each. Rob, Payton told the players, is a walking reminder that the grass is not greener elsewhere, that he has created the best environment in pro sports. Payton reminded the room of how Carrie helps current players in the community and has strengthened the organization’s bond with its alumni. Condoleezza, he revealed, left him sleepless the night before his initial interview with the Broncos. He called Peyton Manning for advice. Her football knowledge is that respected. And he finished with Greg, the team’s operating CEO, crediting his insatiable interest, business acumen and vision for creating this moment.

“I wasn’t choosing to be in the same division as Patrick Mahomes,” Payton said. “I was choosing people and tradition.”

This scene illustrated how effective the Walton-Penner ownership group has been, forming a strong partnership with Payton and general manager George Paton.

When fellow NFL owners approved the richest purchase of a team in North American sports history, on Aug. 9, 2022 at the J.W. Marriott in Minneapolis, it cleared the way for a new era for the Broncos.

In the Walton-Penner ownership group, Denver has found its next Pat Bowlen — and they have done it their way with a new level of sophistication, caring and discipline. They followed a Hall of Famer, inherited a rabid, suspicious fan base, and have become the force behind the Broncos’ resurgence, a reason to believe this franchise will remain a standard-bearer in the NFL.

The Shakespearean drama of the bickering Bowlen children is now a distant memory. The fretting about the lack of the resources is over — the $4.65 billion winning bid representing a fraction of the wealth buttressing the NFL’s new richest ownership group.

What has transpired over the past 29 months — on and off the field — has proven the Broncos are in good hands. While working on an accelerated learning curve, ownership has remained visible and accountable. There was a concern this team might be a hobby since it represents only a slice of the group’s business portfolio.

With players seeing Greg Penner at practice daily, even on the 50-yard line during this week’s mini blizzard, bumping into Carrie Walton Penner in the cafeteria, and talking to the owners at every game, it is clear this is a passion project.

They bought this team to change and improve lives. And win games. A lot of games.

“As a player, you feel like you have their full support,” quarterback Jarrett Stidham said. “And what I appreciate most is that they are genuine people. During the bye week, me, my wife and the McGlincheys went to Aspen and we saw (the Walton) kids. The next week at practice Mr. Greg comes over and has a 10-minute conversation about living in Aspen. They really care about us. And when it comes to football, they are totally invested. They are here all the time with boots on the ground.”

The transition was not without hiccups. Even as it seemed like the owners made the right moves — approving Russell Wilson’s contract extension, moving forward with $100 million in stadium upgrades while keeping an eye on future locations, and accelerating league approval of new uniforms — it was clear they inherited a mess.

Head coach Nathaniel Hackett, hired before their arrival, was in over his head. Wilson was dissolving before their eyes. And worse, the team stunk.

Bowlen, known affectionately as Mr. B, built his reputation on achieving excellence in everything, producing more Super Bowl berths than losing seasons over three-plus decades. Greg Penner asserted his authority four months after taking over. He fired Hackett and made it clear that he wanted a coach who would create a culture of accountability.

Payton has delivered. Penner felt the coach set the right tone by pushing players hard in his first training camp and cutting veterans early last season, namely Randy Gregory and Frank Clark, who were not buying in.

But the Broncos still finished 8-9, their seventh straight losing season. A seismic change was needed. And the willingness to write a huge check. Payton wanted to cut Wilson. Ownership signed off. It meant that the quarterback was paid $124 million for 11 wins, leaving a record $85 million dead cap hit in his wake.

If not for Penner’s decision to eat the money, an admission the contract was a mistake, Payton would have not been able to clear the deck to draft Bo Nix, who just posted the best season by a rookie quarterback in franchise history. It was Penner in a nutshell: He knows when to push, when to pull and when to ask tough questions, while still having his coach’s back.

“(Ownership) is very consistent and in today’s sports, it’s probably one of the biggest indicators of success,” Payton said.

Let’s be clear: The owners have contributed well beyond deep pockets.

After the club’s dreadful 2022 season, Penner made it his pet project to improve the team’s fitness. He commissioned studies and followed Payton’s suggestion to hire Beau Lowery as the team’s vice president of player health and performance. Over the past two seasons, the Broncos rank among the best in fewest practices and games lost to injury, something they hope continues with the building of new state-of-the-art headquarters at the training facility.

“Everything we do as a team from a recovery standpoint, the (owners) are quick to make suggestions. They are always there to support us,” receiver Marvin Mims Jr. said.

Added left tackle Garett Bolles, “They have 100 percent contributed to our success. It’s not just on the field. If they know somebody’s wife is having a baby, they want to make sure they are getting them home, taking care of stuff. Those things go a long way in knowing how they feel about us. That’s all you can ask for.”

The bonds extend beyond the current roster. Those paying attention to training camp practices and home games can see the increased presence of former players. While alumni were around before, the Walton-Penner group has made them feel more welcome with new traditions, like planting the team flag before kickoff.

Carrie Walton Penner has been instrumental in strengthening these connections, which included adding a new family room at the stadium.

“They are the best in the NFL. They have improved the facilities for current players, brought former players into the fold. They have us as captains at home games,” Super Bowl 50 champion Ryan Harris said. “I cannot say enough good things about them.”

Or as former star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. put it, “They have been amazing.”

Strong ownership requires balance. You need money, vision and the spine to lead without meddling.

No one was better than Bowlen. He empowered employees while holding them to a high standard. He was always around, forming relationships with players during his stationary bike workouts in the training room or running the team’s weekly college football pick’em pool.

Penner is similar. Like Bowlen, he is a fantastic athlete — it is hard to name a mountain he hasn’t climbed — with a fiery competitive streak. He is not one to let tradition get in the way of progress, unafraid of making tough decisions with a coach or a contract.

So yes, the Broncos are back in the playoffs. This is not a coincidence.

“You guys have accomplished a lot this season. And there’s something in life about always going higher than what people think you can do. Again, couldn’t be more proud of you all,” Penner said in the locker room after receiving the game ball. “This front office, coaching staff, this is an incredible, incredible group. And we are privileged to be part of it.”

Frankly, it is the other way around.

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