#sean-payton

#sean-payton

It exists as one line of Sean Payton's football resumé, a list that includes 173 regular-season wins as an NFL coach, a Super Bowl victory and several record-setting seasons on offense. But Payton the coach was once Payton the aspiring player -- an Illinois Yankee in King Arthur's Court. In 1988, he spent a six-month stint in England as a quarterback clinging to a last chance to play the game that has since become his livelihood.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- What had been optimism early in the week Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw could be in the lineup for Sunday's season opener against the Tennessee Titans in Empower Field at Mile High had evaporated by Friday. Greenlaw, one of the Broncos' biggest additions in free agency earlier this year, was formally ruled out for the opener with a thigh injury.

If you're going to pick a quarterback early in the first round, it needs to be a guy who builds the building, like John Elway.