Mr. Scot

Maybe... Kaye thinks if Steichen isn't the primary target, the Panthers could wrap things up within the week.

Regarding that note... So if those concerns weren't coming from the Broncos, were they coming from...

Makes sense. He added this...

That sounds more like he's making a prediction than a report. Having it come in the middle of a testy exchange doesn't help.

You're referring to the guy who thought Matt Rhule was a viable option? At least Wilks has an NFL background and some good leadership qualities.

Depends on what he wants... Coaches, even young ones, generally get to hire their own staff. Some balk at the idea of having any part of it chosen for them. The team might suggest certain coaches, but if they insist on them, that's where it gets tricky.

Depends on the coach... It worked with Carroll, but Carroll's not a control freak. Obviously, it didn't work with Rhule. Beyond that, there aren't a whole lot of teams using that model anymore.

Also this...

That assumes Arizona is a serious candidate.

Actually, most of the speculation suggests the problem is the amount of power Payton wants.

We were actually eliminated first In the final four (don't remember if it was before or after Cleveland was brought back in). The call to Tepper did happen though.

Person suggested Tepper needed to be sure he wasn't bidding against himself. If Albright is correct, sounds like that might be a caution for Denver now.

Albright can be hit or miss when it comes to the Panthers, but most of the stuff he's saying about Payton right now is also being said by others.

I do. It's Person saying it, and he's basing it on the belief that the cost to acquire Payton (in terms of money, draft picks and power) is going to be too high for all involved...including us. Based on the latest speculation from Albright and others, that might be true.

Albright doesn't buy that this is bad for the Saints... My guess is if the truth were told, a lot of the stuff that came out about Payton was probably planted by his agent.

Kaye doesn't really sound like he's taking the Payton thing too seriously either...

I'll always wonder if he would have gotten the job.

Not that I recall seeing... Don't recall seeing bere mention Psyton being "out" in Denver. The only thing I've heard him say recently was that he thinks the longer this drags on, the more likely it is he's going back to television.

Albright now agrees... He actually had Payton listed as one of the favorites for the Panthers up until about 12 hours ago.

John specifically mentioned to someone that he doesn't see Mike Kafka being in the mix.

Update: That should be it for the first round of interviews. It's possible they request someone else but the most likely candidate for that (Callahan) is someone who couldn't interview until the 30th.

Case in point...

Quinn's got a second interview set up this week, but it's not with the Broncos. It's with the Cardinals. It's possible he gets the Broncos job. From what I've read, he has some connection to George Paton. Heck, Paton would probably prefer that over giving Sean Payton full control, but word was Paton wasn't going to be included in the second round of interviews. But again, every analyst (not just Albright) that I've seen asked who the favorite is in Denver has said Payton.