Sean Payton May Be Available This Off-Season

[peplaw06]

I'm not totally on the "Fire Garrett" bandwagon... unless Sean Payton is the replacement. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have in here.

Sources: Sean Payton Contract Voided

By Adam Schefter
ESPN

Within the past year, the multiyear contract extension the Saints announced for Sean Payton in September 2011 was voided by the NFL, making the suspended head coach a free agent after this season and casting questions on how long he will remain in New Orleans, according to league sources.

Payton is expected to become the NFL's most sought-after head coach after this season and there already is speculation in league circles that he could wind up returning to Dallas, where he worked as the assistant head coach from 2003 to 2005, during which time the Cowboys brought in quarterback Tony Romo, who attended the same college, Eastern Illinois, as Payton.

Just as Payton's role in the bounty scandal has been an ongoing saga with the NFL for the past year, so has his contract.

As recently as March, when Payton was visiting NFL offices to appeal his yearlong suspension in the bounty scandal, he asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the status of his contract extension and was told it was unsatisfactory as it initially was constituted, sources said.

At issue in the contract was one specific clause that would have enabled Payton to walk away from the deal if general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended, fired or left the New Orleans organization, sources said.

The league believed that any such language in Payton's contract would set a bad precedent for other coaching contracts and rejected the deal well before Loomis was suspended for the first eight games this season for his part in the bounty scandal.

Dating back to roughly the start of this year, the two sides engaged in numerous subsequent conversations to try to resolve the issue but never did.

In the interim, the league has granted Payton permission to work for Saints owner Tom Benson's NBA New Orleans team, and the suspended head coach has been doing some spot work there to earn income.

Some in the league office believe Payton's contract could toll -- meaning the last year would be put on hold, tying him to New Orleans for the 2013 season -- but there is no evidence to confirm that possibility. Until now, the league has not been asked to review or rule on the contract, according to sources, though some believe it eventually could.

To others, there is no issue. Payton will be a free agent. Some believe Payton's strong relationship with Benson will be enough to keep him in New Orleans long term.

But others are more skeptical, knowing that the suspended head coach has undergone some personal changes in his life that have included going through a divorce and spending plenty of time in Dallas.

When Benson initially announced last year the extension for Payton that never got league approval, he said: "I am very pleased to announce this contract extension today for Sean that will run through the 2015 season. Our goal is to continue to build a tradition of winning here in New Orleans and Sean represents that tradition."

 

[Hoofbite]

I'm on the Bandwagon and have been for a while.

I know it's basically been a pointless bandwagon to ride because there's no way Jerry gets rid of his red headed stepchild but Sean Payton could be just the name that tickles the wild hair in Jerry's ass.

I'm actually slightly optimistic about it because with the way this season has been going, Jerry's gonna have to do something in order to keep the team in the spotlight.

This team finishes sub-.500 and he's not gonna sit still.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

I love Sean Payton..do not get me wrong..but just answer me this

Saints have no run game and often times they struggle to pass protect too...unless Drew Brees is coming with him (which he clearly isn't) why would anything be different here?

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Why did Sean Payton try to trade for Romo as soon as he got there if Romo is as worthless as some claim?

Truth is, this would be a no-brainer, but it won't happen. We'll pass on him and Holmgren to stick with the red menace.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

Nobody is saying Romo is worthless. Relax.

We can win w romo. He just needs help. A run game would help. Sean Payton has never managed to build a run game. Im not sure wed be all that much better with him.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

And just bc payto wanted Romo doesn't mean shit.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

Now if Payon can make Romo a better QB without a legit run game-which there is probably evidence to suggest he can, then sure, it could definitely work.

That's the million dollar question

 

[peplaw06]

I love Sean Payton..do not get me wrong..but just answer me this

Saints have no run game and often times they struggle to pass protect too...unless Drew Brees is coming with him (which he clearly isn't) why would anything be different here?

He's not coaching the Saints right now. They had a great OL in the past few years, but have lost some guys.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

He's never had a run game..ever..since he's been there

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

I will admit..if my options are Garrett and Payton..I'm not thinkin twice and taking Payton.

Knowing Jerry, Payton may be the only one who can run Garrett out of town. So I may not have any other options.

I'm perfectly fine w Payton. I'm just not sure he can fix this thing. Definitely worth a try

 

[peplaw06]

Since Payton has been in NO, his offenses have been NO LOWER than 6th in the league in total offensive yards and NO LOWER than 12th in total points. 4 out of 6 seasons they've been NUMBER ONE in yards. 3 out of 6 seasons, they've been number 1 or 2 in total points.

In rushing, they have been ranked 6th in the league two times in six seasons.

He knows offense.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

Now they are saying his suspension will freeze his contract. Won't be available til after next year.

Uggghhhhh. Another wasted year comin next year

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

And schefter is saying otherwise! This is going to be interesting!

If nothing else, let this shitty franchise have some kind of hope!

 

[Midswat]

Highly unlikely, but would be awesome if it happened.

I might hate Jerry 10% less if he had the balls to make the move.

 

[Midswat]

From NFL's @gregaiello: "Our office has made no determination on Sean Payton's contract status with the Saints for next year."

 

[peplaw06]

I think Aiello is playing damage control.

They haven't been asked to make a determination on his contract status regarding whether the current contract is tolled during his suspension. They have already ruled that the extension is void. They probably did that a long time ago. Schefter said the extension was voided before Loomis was suspended. That just means he's under the non-extended portion of his contract.

The Saints say the suspension is tolling his deal, Payton is saying no it's not.

I've never heard of a contract being tolled like that. But Goodell is supposedly the final arbiter on this issue too.

 

[Midswat]

Schefty sticking to his guns:

‏@AdamSchefter
NFL says it has made no determination on Sean Payton's contract status for 2013. But there's nothing to determine. It expires.

 

[GloryDaysRBack]

Why goes Payton want his deal voided? He wants out?

 

[Midswat]

Wouldn't suprise me. Brees only has a few years left. He's 34 or 35, right? And that entire defense needs to be overhauled.

Plus he knows he could choose his terms wherever he went. Oh, and he'd likely be the highest paid coach in the league.

 

[Midswat]

My only fear is what if Coughlin (who's like 70 this year) retired.... and the Giants got him.

Or the Eagles (who will fire Reid) got him.

Because it's more a pipedream that we'll actually get him.