ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sean Payton in no way was trying to disrespect the Jacksonville Jaguars leading up to Sunday’s game between the Denver Broncos and the Jaguars.

However, Liam Coen took a comment Payton made on the Wednesday before the game and used it as bulletin-board material for his team to rally around.

“As you look at them and you watch the tape, it’s a smaller market but you see a real good team,” Payton said on Wednesday, after praising the Jaguars.

Jacksonville’s coach took that as Payton taking a shot at a “smaller market” team.

Following the game, Coen referred to that comment in the Jaguars’ locker room and publicly during his post-game press conference after Jacksonville beat Denver 34-20.

“Great team effort. [I’m] just thankful that a small market team like us can come into a place like Mile High and get it done,” Coen said, referring to Payton’s comment.

On Monday, in his weekly day-after-the-game press conference, Payton was asked about his intention with those comments.

“You asked me if I saw it. You heard it. You were there. What do you think,” the head coach said, responding to the reporter asking the question. “You were there for the press conference. Wednesday’s press conference.”

After the reporter did not give a direct answer back to the head coach, Payton made his intentions with that comment very clear.

“It was very complimentary,” Payton said. “Those guys are playing outstanding football. That topic came up strictly because not enough of the country has seen how good these guys are playing. But you were there for the press conference. What did you think?”

“The point is though, that was a good job by Liam. Looking for a rallying cry,” Payton added. “Obviously, if you were listening, the press conference, the intentions were strictly, ‘Quietly these guys are sitting here right near the top of the AFC, ready to win their division.'”

In no way was the Broncos’ head coach disrespecting the Jaguars. In fact, it was a compliment as he wanted to draw attention to how good they are playing for how little attention they’ve got.

In fact, Payton has personal experience coaching a “small market” team.

“Look, I spent 16 years in a small market,” he said, referring to his time with the New Orleans Saints. “It was just a way for a coach to take it and use it to his advantage. You were there for the press conference.”

Sean Payton was not meaning to disrespect the Jaguars. Regardless, Liam Coen took his comments and turned it into successful bulletin-board material.