Bye George. Please.

George Paton has been responsible for the worst trade in Broncos history and one of the worst deals in NFL annals, the most unnecessary and mammoth worst-ever player contract, the worst bye-week negotiation with a starting quarterback, a 2023 draft that NFL.com evaluates 10 months later as the worst in the league (after a 2022 ranking of fifth from the bottom), and a 20-31 overall record and a 5-13 division record, both worst in the AFC West, during his three-year tenuous temporary term.

In his first general manager’s job Paton has done the worst, pathetic, preposterous job in the Broncos’ 64 seasons.

Attention, Walmart owners. Look at the muddy, mucky, messy morass he has dragged you into.

How George has survived is stunning.

Notwithstanding, Paton still has a job and is traveling to Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine. GM George and head coach Sean Payton will meet with the media Tuesday. That conversation should be charming. Neither Paton nor Payton orates like Pericles.

But the NFL gave the Broncos a big break and Paton a bailout Friday. The 2024 salary cap for each team will increase by $30 million. Instead of being more than $40 million above the cap, the Broncos are over the limit by $10 million-plus. Of course, the substantial rise helps every other franchise, too.

However, the Russell Wilson Matter that Paton produced and has proliferated is now later than sooner.

The next two months will be critical in determining Paton’s fate and Greg Penner’s faith.

The NFL Draft is April 25-27.

First, though, other important dates loom. The scouting combine drills, testing and team interviews of college candidates are scheduled Feb. 29-March 3. Of the 14 quarterbacks invited Paton, Peyton et. al must talk to at least eight – Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Michael Pennix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, Spencer Rattler and Michael Pratt. If they don’t, then dismiss those Denver possibilities. The Broncos have been attached by basement-based buffoons to Maye, Nix, McCarthy and Pratt (because he played at Tulane in Paytonville). Only Payton eventually will know who he wants, and Paton won’t get a mail-in ballot.

March 5 is the deadline for teams to designate franchise and transitional players. The Broncos will not assign a franchise tag, but likely will select transitions (retaining the right of first refusal to sign).

Then, on March 11 the headline is unrestricted free agents and NFL teams can begin to consider offers, and contracts can be signed on March 13. Last year the Broncos brought in during the first wave three high-priced players – Mike McGlinchey, Ben Powers and Zach Allen – but Paton has admitted that the franchise won’t make those multiples of millions March maneuvers. Rather, the Broncos will be bargain-basement Walmart shoppers while they lose some of their own dozen unrestricted free agents – most notable Josey Jewell, P.J. Locke and Lloyd Cushenberry III.

The Broncos could sign a free agent quarterback then. Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Gardner Minshew erroneously have been connected to the Broncos. Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemian and Drew Lock have been disconnected permanently.

On or before March 18 the Broncos must resolve the Russell Ruling. Even though the Broncos will owe him $39 million this year, his 2025 $35 million contract must be guaranteed or declined. Guess what? He ain’t coming back despite what Payton and Paton claim. They’re hoping an NFL team from another state or an alien ship from another planet drops out of the sky and requests a trade. In all probability he will be designated a post-June cut so the Broncos can divide over two seasons the $85 million in dead cap that was the fault of Paton, who never should have agreed to a contract extension before Wilson played one exhibition for Denver.

Wilson’s future has been linked to the Steelers, the Falcons, the Patriots and, yes, the Raiders. A $25 million home with eight bedrooms and 13 baths currently is available in Las Vegas. “Raiders Nation, Let’s Not Be Denied.’’

The NFL annual meetings are one month from Sunday in Orlando so the owners can go to Disney World. And the NFL Draft is two months from Sunday in Detroit so owners can go the Tigers-Royals game.

No official date for Paton’s firing has been set. Yet.