Denver, CO – August 11, 2025 — The rhythm at Broncos camp wobbled when a promising rookie abruptly left the practice field after hearing that a teammate drafted later reportedly holds a larger “total contract value.”

The central figure is OLB Que Robinson (4th round, Alabama), who had just impressed in the preseason win over the San Francisco 49ers—reading screens well and looking solid on special teams. According to several voices inside the building, Robinson boiled over when he compared his deal to P Jeremy Crawshaw (6th round, Florida) — who is believed to have a larger overall package due to contract structure.

Defensive captain Patrick Surtain II did not sugarcoat it:

“Skipping practice over a contract? That’s weak. In Denver, at Mile High, we work in thin air and earn our place. We’ve turned down bigger money just to wear orange and blue — if you can’t handle that, hand your jersey to someone who’ll actually fight for it,"

Sources say the flare-up happened less than 48 hours after Robinson’s standout outing, leaving the locker room puzzled. Crawshaw—at the center of the comparison—continues to compete for the starting job with strong technique and the ability to pin opponents deep.

Head coach Sean Payton kept it brief before returning to the plan:

“Our standard is availability, accountability, and daily improvement. How you handle your business matters as much as how you play.”

With roster cuts approaching, Denver’s focus remains on install, special-situations work, and sorting the back half of the depth chart. Whether Robinson returns quickly or this becomes a turning point in his rookie season is unclear. For now, the message at Mile High is unmistakable: commitment comes before contracts.