Sean Payton's SHOCKING Take on Riley Moss' Penalties: Is the Broncos' Future at Risk?

Opinions remain divided on Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss. This season, he has become one of the NFL's most-targeted cornerbacks but has also relinquished the remarkable achievement of posting the lowest completion percentage against him at 53.2%. Despite these impressive stats, public perception has been marred by ongoing concerns about his discipline on the field.

The most significant issue for Moss has been his propensity for penalties. He has been one of the league's most-penalized players, drawing 11 flags so far, with nine of those resulting in enforced penalties. The majority of these have been for pass interference, alongside one for illegal contact and another for facemask. This has led to some scrutiny, especially given that in a single game against the Kansas City Chiefs, a penalty wiped out a potential pick-six for teammate Jahdae Barron.

However, recent games have shown promise. In three of the Broncos' last four contests, Moss avoided penalties, including a solid performance in last week’s win over the Washington Commanders. Yet, the game wasn't without its challenges; he did concede a touchdown to Treylon Burks, who executed one of the season's most sensational catches. It's essential to recognize that sometimes even the best cornerbacks cannot prevent a perfect pass or an extraordinary catch.

Since the Broncos' Week 11 victory over the Chiefs, Moss has made it clear that he aims to minimize his penalties. Head coach Sean Payton highlighted the importance of balancing confidence and technique in a position that often demands a fine line between aggressive play and discipline. "One of his great strengths is his confidence level and how he plays the game," said Payton. "We keep going, and when the calls come in, you just keep competing."

Despite the controversy surrounding his penalties, the Broncos coaching staff remains optimistic. The team's management does not appear to be losing sleep over Moss's controversial flags, believing that many calls have been unfair. What sets Moss apart is his resilience; even when faced with adversity on the field, he has a short memory and quickly bounces back for the next play. This mental toughness is crucial for a cornerback.

However, Moss's habit of being "grabby" at the catch point has been a recurring issue. In practice, he has even resorted to putting on boxing gloves to retrain his instincts and avoid unnecessary contact that leads to penalties. "It's a repetitive thing," Moss explained. "People can have their opinion on it, but me, as a professional athlete, I need to be able to recognize that this has happened multiple times."

Many of the penalties against him, including the controversial illegal contact foul, have been perceived as ticky-tack by both players and coaching staff, indicating that he has developed a reputation with officiating crews that he needs to overcome. Payton acknowledged the difficulty in correcting technique when one doesn't agree with the calls made on the field, highlighting the challenge of adapting to a skewed perception from referees.

As the season progresses, the Broncos are focused on helping Moss become more aware of his actions at the catch point. If he can reduce the grabby tendencies that have led to penalties, he stands to emerge as one of the NFL's top cornerbacks. Encouragingly, coming off a much-needed bye week, Moss was not penalized in Week 13.

Looking ahead, the Broncos face the Las Vegas Raiders, where Moss will have the support of fellow cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Moss has proven to be a vital asset in Surtain's absence, leading the cornerback group effectively. He has started all 12 games this season, broken up 12 passes, and notched 56 tackles (41 solo) along with one tackle for a loss, though he is still searching for his first interception of the year. The potential for improvement is high, and if he can continue to minimize penalties, his value to the team could skyrocket.

As the Broncos continue their campaign, keeping an eye on Moss's performance will be crucial. The recent lack of penalties is a step in the right direction, and the team hopes he can maintain this momentum moving forward.