In 2000, quarterback Jason Garrett arrived for what initially looked to be a routine free-agency meeting with the New York Giants to talk with Sean Payton.

It lasted six hours.

Garrett had played the previous eight seasons as a Dallas Cowboys backup. And Payton, then 36, was entering his first season as the Giants’ offensive coordinator.

“I still remember the dinner we had in Weehawken, New Jersey, overlooking the Hudson River and the New York City Skyline and just talking football for hours,’’ Garrett said.

Garrett visited with Payton, in his third season as Broncos head coach, at training camp last week and the two reminisced about that 2000 meeting. Garrett ended up signing with the Giants and played his final four NFL seasons with them, three with Payton as his coordinator and one

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