His phone rings in December 2014, and it’s too early. Sean Payton has a bad feeling. He is on his way to present a game ball to Bailey Elizabeth Leon, a 12-year-old patient at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans. The pair have become friends over the course of multiple visits. Payton promises her the Saints will beat the Chicago Bears on Monday night and he is returning with a gift.

As he looked at the football in his passenger seat and answered the call, Payton knew something was wrong: Bailey was gone, passing away from pediatric cancer.

“I pulled over on the side of the road and immediately called both my children (Connor and Meghan). I was devastated knowing that I should have stopped by sooner (that week),” said Payton on Wednesday, his voice cracking. “She was so tough. And such a huge fan. I remember flying to her funeral and taking the ball to her parents and them putting it in her casket. It just reminds us of our mortality. The idea of young kids dealing with sickness is so difficult.”

Shaped by this experience, Payton and his wife Skylene, a former nurse, found themselves drawn to help, first in New Orleans, and now in Colorado. In June the couple asked to tour Children’s Hospital of Colorado. They were impressed during the two-hour visit and wanted to support the kids in a meaningful way. After discussing ideas, Sean and Skylene made a $150,000 donation to help build a playground on the backside of the hospital.

At a time when nerves are frayed and the suffering is agonizing, this space can offer a chance for kids to be kids and for their families to suspend reality.

“We shared with them an idea we had for a long time, and they thought it was a great way to engage with the youth. We are extremely grateful,” said Christy Dobson, vice president, board and community relations at Children’s Hospital. “It will be a place for some respite, for normal activities, a healthy way for them to play.”

The contribution allowed the hospital to move forward, leaving optimism that the area, with adaptive swings, wheelchair accessibility and possibly a rock-climbing wall, will be ready in spring of 2025.

“They were so generous with their time. We got back home, talked about it and we thought it would be something really cool,” said Payton, who had been reluctant to discuss the donation, not wanting any attention. “It constantly reinforces that if you are able to give, whether it’s time or resources, it creates that feeling of fulfillment and balance in your life.”

The idea of Payton with a warm heart is quite the juxtaposition to the person seen on the sidelines or in Broncos headquarters. His factory setting is abrasive. At least for public consumption.

But in his second year in Denver, Payton is becoming one of us. His understanding of this area, of Broncos Country, of what the Broncos mean to this region has evolved and grown.

It started in the spring when his comfort level was noticeably different, his energy spiked from coaching a young and hungry team. Then it was reinforced in June.

This season he has changed the culture. Changed the record. And found a fit with a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix. But it is clear it goes well beyond that, extending to life away from the field.

He is not just passing through anymore. This place is becoming home to Payton and Skylene.

“He’s all ball in the building. I would say the majority of the guys haven’t seen the other side of him. I have known him for nine years so I have seen it plenty,” kicker Wil Lutz said. “He wants to be part of and buy into the community that he’s part of. I think it is truly important. You don’t want to be a coach who only cares about the locker room. When he was in New Orleans for 15 years, you saw him embrace the city. And he’s doing it here now.”

Payton provides his team with reminders of life’s fragility. It is not uncommon on Saturdays before home games for the coach to host a patient from Children’s Hospital. Prior to the visit, Payton puts a biography of the child on the big screen in the morning team meeting, listing their favorite players, food and where they are from. He wants the players to make a connection, if possible.

The visit concludes with the child breaking down the huddle at the end of practice. These moments, his experience a decade ago a constant reminder, can not be taken for granted.

“It’s their wish to be there, to be with our guys,” Payton said. “It’s so good for our team to see. It is humbling and really puts everything in perspective.”

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The era of the triple option may have come to an end at Lake Brantley.

Third year Lake Brantley football coach Skip Clayton has been let go by the school. Clayton acknowledged the move via text message Wednesday night, writing “the principal [Brian Blazewitz] says he wants to go in a different direction.”

Athletic director Eric Entrekin also confirmed the move via text message, ending a relationship with the Clayton family and the school that spanned nearly 40 years.

Clayton took over as head coach in 2022, after serving as an assistant coach under his father, George Clayton, who was the Lake Brantley head coach for 19 seasons before retiring and giving way to Dave Delfiacco, who resigned in 2022, when Skip took over.

Skip’s father, George Clayton, 74, who had a 153-66 record at Lake Brantley, died in May of last year.

Skip Clayton, who graduated from Lake Brantley High in 1996, had a 9-22 record in his three seasons, going 3-7 this season.

The Clayton era at Lake Brantley was know as the era of the triple-option offense that was installed by the elder Clayton when he took over the job as head coach in 1996. Skip served as his father’s assistant, as well as assistant to Delfiacco from 2003-2022.

The school produced a number of star running backs during that time, and four NFL players Pat DiMarco (2012-19), Dee Brown (2002-06), Tion Green (2017) and Jared Bernhardt (2022).

Chris Hays can be found on X @OS_ChrisHays.

MIAMI GARDENS — Spirits are high around the Miami Dolphins right now because they’re riding the wave of back-to-back victories for the first time since December when they defeated the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys in consecutive games.

Playoff hopes are still alive for the Dolphins (4-6), and they’ll rise even higher if they defeat the New England Patriots (3-8) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Coach Mike McDaniel has re-tooled the offense, going from a big-play passing game to a ball control run game with a short passing game.

The Dolphins hope to awaken the deep passing game led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

But until then, they seem content to utilize the new offense led by Tagovailoa, running back De’Von Achane and tight end Jonnu Smith.

The Dolphins likely need to win five of their remaining seven games to earn a playoff berth, and most have the Patriots game penciled in as a victory.

Here are some keys to the game: 

Dolphins’ new offense fits historical trend

The Dolphins’ revamped offense still bears watching. It’s in its infancy stage.

But the Dolphins have been here before as an organization. The offense is floundering. The record is disappointing. Then, out of nowhere, a midseason offensive re-birth leads to a playoff berth.

We saw it in 2008 with the unexpected emergence of the Wildcat offense.

We saw it in 2016, eight years later, with the unexpected emergence of running back Jay Ajayi.

Now, in 2024, eight years after that, we might see it again with the unexpected emergence of a ball-control offense.

We’ll see if history repeats.

Ingold, and his effect on the run game

Pro Bowl fullback Alec Ingold has missed the past two games with a calf injury and it’s shown in the rushing results.

After a five-game stretch of rushing for at least 100 yards, and a four-game stretch of rushing for at least 149 yards, the Dolphins have rushed for 67 yards (vs. Los Angeles Rams) and 82 yards (vs. Las Vegas).

Ingold usually takes care of the defender nearest the line of scrimmage so that running backs De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Wright have some room to maneuver. 

The confusing thing is the Dolphins won both of the past two games but went 1-4 during the stretch of 100-yard rushing games and 1-3 in the games rushing for 149 or more yards.

Re-establishing home field advantage

The Dolphins must win Sunday to re-establish home field advantage.

The Dolphins are 2-3 at home this season and 3-6 in their past nine home games, including two losses to Tennessee.

After New England, the Dolphins have home games remaining against the New York Jets (Dec. 8) and San Francisco (Dec. 22).

The Dolphins’ road to the playoffs will be much easier if they win their three remaining home games. 

After all, the Dolphins are 9-15 (.375) on the road under McDaniel. They won’t want to be required to win both of their final two games, at Cleveland and at the New York Jets, to make the playoffs.

Defense stopping Maye

The Dolphins defense is No. 9 in the league (308 yards allowed per game) – No. 10 against the pass (199 ypg allowed), No. 10 against the run (109 ypg allowed), and No. 15 in points allowed (22.1 per game).

The job this week is stopping New England rookie quarterback Drake Maye (nine touchdowns, six interceptions, 87.5 passer rating).

Maye is aided by running back Rhamondre Stevenson (585 yards rushing, 3.8 yards per carry, six touchdowns) and tight end Hunter Henry (46 receptions, 491 yards, one touchdown).

Miami’s defensive game plan will likely begin with stopping the run to make the Patriots one dimensional. And then they’ll attack Maye, perhaps with early blitzes to test his response.

McDaniel’s play-calling

McDaniel has done well as a play-caller in recent weeks. He has resisted the temptation to force the deep passes to Hill and Waddle. Instead he’s taken advantage of the underneath space created from the two-high safety scheme opposing defenses are utilizing in the passing game to use Smith and he’s taken advantage of the seven-man fronts in the run game to run the ball.

If McDaniel stays patient, and at some point re-discovers how to hit Hill and Waddle deep, this becomes a dangerous offense.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — will Miami use Patriots game to open up offense? | VIDEO

Bo Nix won’t be the only offensive rookie of the year candidate on the field Sunday when the Broncos visit Las Vegas.

The Raiders may be headed for a last-place finish and are 5.5-point home underdogs to Denver, but they’ve got one of the best young players in football in tight end Brock Bowers.

Better yet: Nix and Bowers were selected in back-to-back picks during April’s draft at Nos. 12 and 13, respectively.

“He can move, he can be outside, he can run a route tree maybe different than most tight ends,” Denver head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “When it’s happening week in and week out — you see it with (Detroit’s Sam LaPorta), you see it obviously with (Travis) Kelce and (George) Kittle. It becomes a little bit more challenging when they’re outside at receiver.”

While Nix has come on strong in recent weeks, Bowers has been a force from the start. He’s second in the NFL in catches (70), has 713 receiving yards and is tracking toward breaking just about every rookie record on the books for tight ends.

Two of his biggest games of the season came last week in a loss to Miami (13 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown) and Week 5 against Denver (8 catches for 97 and a touchdown). He’s had eight or more catches five times this year and he’s ninth overall in the NFL in yards after the catch.

“They’ve made it a key for him to get the ball,” Broncos corner Pat Surtain II said. “Obviously 13 catches is a high rate, especially for a rookie. But they’ve made it a point of emphasis to get him the ball at any spot and any position. They’ve even got him at X back-side, at tight end, at Z. He’s playing all positions and they’re utilizing him very well.

“It’s going to be a good challenge for us.”

Turner-Yell out for the year. Wednesday brought tough news for safety Delarrin Turner-Yell.

The Broncos opted not to activate him from the physically unable to perform list at the end of his 21-day practice window, meaning he’ll revert to PUP and is out for the season.

“We spent a lot of time going through it,” Payton said. “We’ve got a real clear vision for him. Bright future. Had a real good visit. I know it’s difficult.”

Turner-Yell tore his ACL and meniscus in Week 17 last year and had worked diligently to get back. He was on track to hit his goal of returning around midseason when Denver returned him to practice three weeks ago.

Denver is healthy, though, and ultimately decided it didn’t have a roster move it felt comfortable making to get him back on the 53-man roster.

“With where we’re at in the season, it just became a challenge relative to managing the roster,” Payton said.

The Broncos have decisions to make on other reserve-list players in the coming week in linebacker Drew Sanders (Nov. 27 deadline) and wide receiver Josh Reynolds (Dec. 4 deadline).

Powers out Wednesday. Broncos left guard Ben Powers did not practice Wednesday because of a right shoulder injury he suffered late in Sunday’s win against Atlanta.

Safety Brandon Jones (abdomen) was limited all of last week, missed Sunday’s game and was limited again Wednesday. Defensive lineman Zach Allen’s been getting veteran rest days regularly on Wednesdays, while Sanders (Achilles), Reynolds (hand) and safety P.J. Locke (thumb) all practiced fully.

Run defense. Given the opponent and circumstances, Sunday against Atlanta might have been the Broncos’ best run defense performance since 2019. Denver held the Falcons to 50 rushing yards despite that offense averaging 152 over its past five games. The Broncos had only held two opponents to less than 50 rushing yards since the 2019 season.

“If an offense has got a run rhythm, you’re defending a lot of different elements,” Payton said Wednesday. “If an offense at some point becomes one dimensional, then you’re defending one element.”

The Broncos have surged to No. 4 in the NFL in yards allowed per carry (3.8) and are tied for sixth in EPA per rush allowed (-.12). Denver finished the 2023 season last yards allowed per carry (5.0).

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