Justin Simmons remains a free agent, which afforded him some time to reflect on his past.
First up on the list: His experience playing for Sean Payton in his final season with the only team he'd known for nearly a decade -- a club that turned a corner toward a brighter future only after they'd parted with Simmons.
It would be understandable if Simmons was still bitter over how his tenure with Denver ended. But he isn't; he's glad his former teammates have finally tasted success.
"I mean, I can't speak for Sean (Payton)," the former Broncos safety said, via the Denver Post. "I have no bad blood with Sean, with anyone in the building. I loved my time there. I will always consider him a friend and a great coach …
"I loved Sean. I love the Walton-Penner (ownership) group and what they have going on. Business decisions happen. And sometimes there are casualties, where both player and fans wish there wasn't and (there) just is. And both sides could be better from it -- and you see they had a successful year. And I'm so happy for them."
Denver undoubtedly had a successful year, ending a nearly decade-long playoff drought with a roster that had been turned over to rely on younger players, most notably at quarterback, where rookie Bo Nix made a respectable run at Offensive Rookie of the Year while leading Denver back to the postseason. Simmons believes their youth was vital to their turnaround, explaining the less-experienced group was likely more eager to buy into what Payton was selling in 2024.
It was a remarkable transformation from what appeared to be a relatively miserable experience in 2023, Simmons' final campaign in Denver.
"That's a really good question," Simmons said when asked what was different between the two teams. "I mean, even when I played against them and I'm watching a film, I just felt, and this is no shade at anyone -- I feel when you have a team that is young, and you can mold, they buy in a lot faster than guys that are older and have seen it and have done things differently for however long that is. Right?
"And so people can take that how they're going to take it. It's not a shot at anyone, but the guys bought in.
"Sean is an amazing coach. And when you have that combination, good things happen. Not all the time, right? But good things tend to happen. And so I think last year was just a byproduct of the team buying in. That showed up in a lot of their games."
Simmons, meanwhile, watched from afar while serving as a mercenary for the Falcons, a team that lost their rudder down the stretch and fell short of the playoffs.
Simmons' single season with the Falcons was decent -- though not as good as his last few campaigns in Denver -- but as he toiled with a squad that ended up changing quarterbacks out of desperation late in the year, he couldn't help but keep an eye on his former teammates' triumphs.
It's a reality Simmons chased for years in Denver, where he became a Pro Bowl safety and consistent star amid a tumultuous era in the club's history. Because life is often cruel, when the time came for the Broncos to finally return to prominence, they cut Simmons in order to save salary cap, forcing him to find a job via a one-year deal with Atlanta.
Given the chance to do it over, Simmons wouldn't change a thing. After all, his release from the Broncos wasn't solely his choice. Having watched his former team enjoy a playoff run while he once again experienced the disappointment of missing the postseason, however, has motivated Simmons to zero in on one goal: pursuing legitimate team success.
"I think Atlanta I would still pick 10 out of 10 times if I was in the spot (I was in) last year," Simmons said. "But in terms of where I'm at now, (I'm) being a little bit more picky where we want to go and where we want to call home next … the next two years, a year, whatever it is … but a contender is No. 1 on the list right now."
It's the same goal Simmons described in April, yet he still remains unsigned. At 31 years old, he might have to continue waiting until a need arises during training camp or preseason action. But at this point in his career, it sounds as if Simmons is content with waiting for the right situation.
After all, he knows he only has so much time left. And he doesn't want to waste it by repeating the same process he endured in 2024.
