Money deal

 The funniest thing you're going to hear this week is not Nikki Haley being absurdly wrong about the Civil War, but Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton trying to explain why he's benching Russell Wilson without explaining why he's benching Russell Wilson.

It's not because Payton wants to see what backup Jarrett Stidham has to offer, in case you were wondering. That's Payton's spin, and if you believe it I've got some sweet oceanfront property in Kansas to sell you.

I mean ...

Yes, we think Jarrett Stidham is the guy to turn around our sluggish offense these last two games. He's Jarrett Stidham, for God's sake! Guy played in TWO WHOLE GAMES for the Patriots back before they went to shite! He has two career starts, six career touchdown passes and seven career interceptions! How could he NOT be an upgrade from a guy who -- let's see -- has thrown for 43,653 yards and 334 touchdowns in his career?

That's about how it sounded. Not even kidding.

No, the truth is, Payton's benching the admittedly aging Wilson because last year the Broncos agreed, without anyone holding a gun to their heads, to pay him $242.6 million over five years. Now they're on the hook for $39 million next year whether Wilson plays or not, plus (and here's the important part) an additional $37 million if he gets hurt in the last two games and can't pass a March physical.

There's not much chance Wilson will suffer an injury sitting on the bench, unless it's a bad high-ego sprain. So that's why the Broncos are benching him, and will likely try to trade or release him before June 1-- after which Russ will cost them $85 mill in dead money.

All that other stuff Sean Payton said?

Yeah, um, no. The Broncos have been wallowing around a bit on offense this season, but it's not because of Russell Wilson. He's in the top ten in the league in touchdowns and passer rating, having thrown 26 sixes versus just eight picks. And his 66.4 percent completion percentage is actually almost two points higher than his career average.

That's a significant bounce-back from last year, when Wilson played miserably for a miserable team.

The straight skinny?

The Broncos are benching Wilson because they don't want to pay him.

Twelve months ago they made an incredibly stupid deal, and now they want to renege on that deal. It's as simple and uncomplicated as that.

"If they didn't want to pay me, why did they agree to pay me?" Russ must be wondering about now.

A question for which he'll likely never get a satisfactory answer.