Broncos coach Sean Payton not 'afraid of expectations' - ESPN - Denver Broncos Blog- ESPN

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Just a couple weeks through training camp, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton is comin' in hot under the summer sun. From publicly roasting the team’s former coaching staff to casting a critical eye on all parts of the organization, Payton has unabashedly put forth his “vision’’ to change the Broncos' playoff fortunes.

And this is just two weeks in.

“That’s what you want out of your leader,’’ Broncos outside linebacker Frank Clark said. “At the end of the day, coach Payton [is] re-instilling that type of ball.’’

The Broncos haven’t played in a postseason game since their Super Bowl 50 win to close out the 2015 season. They are currently in their longest playoff drought since Jimmy Carter was in the White House and their offense has been a consistent anchor to the team’s efforts over the last seven years, having finished 28th or worse in scoring in three of the last four years alone.

It's why owner/CEO Greg Penner spent big to hire Payton and in turn let Payton spend big to round out his staff — some of his new assistants and new player health and performance staff rank at the top of the league’s pay scale. And at every turn, Payton has channeled one of his chief mentors — Hall of Famer Bill Parcells — with a no-nonsense approach.

Many players use the word “transparent’’ when discussing how Payton has critiqued their efforts. At one point during the offseason program, Payton used a big screen in the team meeting room to list criteria his coaching staff would be using to evaluate players.

He's even said he would be angry if this Broncos team wasn’t in the postseason when the new year arrives.

“I’m not afraid of the expectations,’’ Payton said. “ … That mindset needs to be present here, I see this as a team