ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Maybe and the aren't headed for a costly divorce, after all.The po sibility of working things out with their benched $242.6 million quarterback was the main me sage that emerged from the Broncos' season-ending news conference Wednesday.Coach said no decision has been made at QB but everyone will have clarity soon: I spent a half hour with Ru s yesterday and I told him I dont think its going to be a long, drawn-out proce s. But it hasnt been decided relative Jordan Bowden Jersey to what our plans are and that as soon as we know something that certainly he would be the first to know.Payton said there was indeed a scenario in which Wilson returns as his starting quarterback next season despite being benched after throwing for 28 touchdowns through 15 games.ADVERTISEMENT Yeah, otherwise it would have been like, Hey, good-bye,'" Payton said. "So, well look at all the scenarios and try to do whats best for the Denver Broncos.General manager said the door is open to a reconciliation that would keep Wilson in Denver, adding, I've talked to Ru s. He's open to returning.Wilson's agent, Mark Rodgers, didn't immediately return me sages from The A sociated Pre s afterward.The Broncos are on the hook for Wilson's $39 million salary in 2024 and they'd also have $85 million in dead cap charges over the next two years if they let him go.This would be extreme, Paton said.It would also be an NFL record, more than doubling the $40- Nate Sestina Jersey plus million the Atlanta Falcons incurred in dead cap charges following QB Matt Ryan's departure.But CEO , who is the league's richest owner, said the substantial financial fallout from a split with Wilson wouldnt be the deciding factor in the teams quarterback decision. Obviously, the financial part of it is a significant component in terms of how this works out in the future, but thats not what will drive this decision," Penner said. "The decision will be driven on whats in the best interests of this football team winning games.The Broncos (8-9) posted a losing record for a seventh straight season and extended their playoff drought to eight years in Payton's first year as coach. He benched Wilson for the final two games and Jarrett Stidham went 1-1 with a pair of middling performances in his place. After Wilson was benched, he Wilson Chandler Jersey said in an interview at his locker on Dec. 29 that the team approached him during the bye week following Denver's biggest win in years, a 24-9 dispatch of the Chiefs in Week 8 that snapped a 16-game losing skid to Kansas City, and if he didn't adjust his $37 million injury Chris Chiozza Jersey guarantee in 2024.He declined to change anything in the contract and remained the starter until he was benched following a lo s to the Patriots on Christmas Eve in what the Broncos insist was a football move, not a financial one.The Broncos didn't respond publicly to Wilson's comments about being threatened with his starting job until Wednesday's news conference.The owner, GM and head coach all declined to characterize Paton's interaction with Wilson's agent as a threat to bench the quarterback if he didn't adjust his contract.During the bye week I did reach out to Ru ss agent in a good faith and a creative attempt to adjust his contract, Paton said. We couldnt get a deal done and we moved on with our season. It didnt come up again. Fast forward, Week 17 Sean makes a change in the quarterback position. This was a football decision made by Sean in what he thought was in the best interest of the team. This was completely independent of any conversations I had with the agent.The head Kyrie Irving Jersey coach has said all along he wasn't privy to the talks between management and Wilson's agent. Penner indicated he'll let Payton and Paton figure out who will be under center for Denver in 2024, whether that's Wilson, Stidham, a 2024 draft pick or another team's castoff.As CEO, I definitely want to be briefed to know whats going on. That being said, I entrust people to do their jobs and I dont coach the football team, I dont call the agents and have negotiations on player contracts," Penner said. "Again, I believe the approach to Ru sells agent was done in a constructive way. And it just didnt lead to an agreement.___AP NFL: