ThoughtExperiment
Quality Starter
- Messages
- 9,906
- Reaction score
- 3
Sean Payton joining the Dallas Cowboys is a very real possibility
By Albert Breer NFL.com
Reporter, NFL.com and NFL Network
Published: Nov. 6, 2012 at 01:39 p.m. Updated: Nov. 6, 2012 at 02:28 p.m.
In his robust Inside The NFL Notebook below, NFL Network's Albert Breer touches on multiple topics, including (click on each link to take you directly to the topic):
» Four things he's looking forward to in Week 10.
» An interesting theory on who might be Coach of the Year.
» Why things could get even uglier in Kansas City this weekend.
» And much more, beginning with why the Sean-Payton-to-Cowboys talk has some merit to it ...
I don't know whether Sean Payton will coach the Dallas Cowboys in 2013.
But I do know enough to think it's a very real possibility. And that should be plenty to send shivers up the spine of everyone in New Orleans, who have already endured a horror movie of a calendar year.
Payton's daughter Meghan and son Connor live in the Dallas area. He coached there from 2003-05, and in that time formed a strong and lasting relationship with the deep-pocketed, team-owning Jones family. And according to one person who worked for the Cowboys during that time, Payton "loved coaching and living in Dallas." That's an important quality for those at Valley Ranch, since it's a franchise that's run, covered and followed differently than the other 31 clubs.
It needs to be said that Jason Garrett, even at 16-16 through 32 games, doesn't necessarily deserve to be among a growing group of NFL head coaches who have landed on the hot seat in midseason. The Cowboys' roster needed change in 2011, but didn't get it until 2012, and Garrett deserves some time for that transition to take root. I, for one, don't believe Jerry Jones will fire Garrett ... unless something unusual or unforseen happens.
But if Payton is on the market in early January (and the Cowboys are at home and not in the playoffs), that would qualify. The availability of that kind of coach in tandem with the age of core players like Tony Romo (31), DeMarcus Ware (30), Jason Witten (30) and Jay Ratliff (31) makes this a very real possibility.
"I could see it happening," one Cowboys source said. "You know the relationship. Jerry really respects [Sean]. To be honest, I think he was hoping that Jason would be what Sean is -- the personality, the creativity. That's who he wanted with Jason, was another Sean."
To be sure, all of this -- precipitated by the news reported by ESPN Sunday, that Payton's contract extension of last fall was voided by the NFL -- has created an awkward situation.
On one side, you have Jones, who has invested in Garrett being here, dating back to Garrett's time as a Cowboys player in the 1990s. Jones still believes, with time, Garrett can get to the aforementioned vision and be another Payton. On the other side, you have Payton, who has meant everything to New Orleans and the Saints, has a good relationship with his boss, owner Tom Benson, and an amazing one with his quarterback, Drew Brees.
Then, there's the fact that Garrett and Payton were together for three years, Garrett as a player and Payton as a coach, with the New York Giants in 2000-02.
Account for all that muck, and it's clear it would take a pretty ideal situation to pry Payton from New Orleans or convince Jones to dump Garrett. This might just be it.
"Mesh the personal and the professional," said the first source, who worked for Dallas during Payton's time there, "and I'd say that (Payton would) have more reasons to do it than not."
Of course, it might not be that easy. As another source who handles coaching contracts explains it, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell holds the ultimate authority over whether Payton's deal will expire in January or not. Coaching deals have a provision that adopts NFL's Constitution and Bylaws, which empower the commissioner to settle contract disputes. That could bring Payton's rocky relationship with Goodell into play.
"Roger could take the position that, 'When I rule on someone acting in a manner that undermines that public confidence and integrity of the game, I want to ensure that ruling doesn't give an unintended benefit to the violator,' " the source said. "This would be a very messy situation, at best. The deck could be stacked against Sean there."
Then, there's Payton leaving behind what he's built in New Orleans.
Tom Benson is 85 and I'm told Payton has serious reservations about the succession plan. The eventual one in Dallas would be much more appealing to him, but he does have loyalty to Benson who gave him his big shot. One of Payton's ex-players said he thinks "the only way it happens is if something happens health-wise to Mr. Benson." Cutting the cord with Brees also would be extremely difficult for Payton.
Dallas is different. You don't need to worry about the quarterback. Payton tried to trade for Romo, and was shot down by the Cowboys, before he and the Saints acquired Brees in 2006. Payton also was in part responsible for getting Romo to Dallas in the first place, when the QB was a rookie free agent, and was integral to his development.
Power could be an issue. The first source said, "Power over the 53-man roster? Maybe. But final say on picking players? That may be hard." But Payton could use Parcells, who wrested more control from Jones than any coach has, to grease the skids, and the first source said that if Jones had Payton in his sights, "He'd do just about anything."
We're not at that point yet. The Saints can, and will, try to finish now what they thought was done in September 2011, and lock up Payton up long-term. Until then, though, the pressure's on Benson to deliver a deal that would block a franchise-crippling blow. Likewise, the pressure's on Garrett to take the decision out of Jones' hands.
The smart money's still got Payton staying in New Orleans. But at this early juncture, that's no sure thing.
By Albert Breer NFL.com
Reporter, NFL.com and NFL Network
Published: Nov. 6, 2012 at 01:39 p.m. Updated: Nov. 6, 2012 at 02:28 p.m.
In his robust Inside The NFL Notebook below, NFL Network's Albert Breer touches on multiple topics, including (click on each link to take you directly to the topic):
» Four things he's looking forward to in Week 10.
» An interesting theory on who might be Coach of the Year.
» Why things could get even uglier in Kansas City this weekend.
» And much more, beginning with why the Sean-Payton-to-Cowboys talk has some merit to it ...
I don't know whether Sean Payton will coach the Dallas Cowboys in 2013.
But I do know enough to think it's a very real possibility. And that should be plenty to send shivers up the spine of everyone in New Orleans, who have already endured a horror movie of a calendar year.
Payton's daughter Meghan and son Connor live in the Dallas area. He coached there from 2003-05, and in that time formed a strong and lasting relationship with the deep-pocketed, team-owning Jones family. And according to one person who worked for the Cowboys during that time, Payton "loved coaching and living in Dallas." That's an important quality for those at Valley Ranch, since it's a franchise that's run, covered and followed differently than the other 31 clubs.
It needs to be said that Jason Garrett, even at 16-16 through 32 games, doesn't necessarily deserve to be among a growing group of NFL head coaches who have landed on the hot seat in midseason. The Cowboys' roster needed change in 2011, but didn't get it until 2012, and Garrett deserves some time for that transition to take root. I, for one, don't believe Jerry Jones will fire Garrett ... unless something unusual or unforseen happens.
But if Payton is on the market in early January (and the Cowboys are at home and not in the playoffs), that would qualify. The availability of that kind of coach in tandem with the age of core players like Tony Romo (31), DeMarcus Ware (30), Jason Witten (30) and Jay Ratliff (31) makes this a very real possibility.
"I could see it happening," one Cowboys source said. "You know the relationship. Jerry really respects [Sean]. To be honest, I think he was hoping that Jason would be what Sean is -- the personality, the creativity. That's who he wanted with Jason, was another Sean."
To be sure, all of this -- precipitated by the news reported by ESPN Sunday, that Payton's contract extension of last fall was voided by the NFL -- has created an awkward situation.
On one side, you have Jones, who has invested in Garrett being here, dating back to Garrett's time as a Cowboys player in the 1990s. Jones still believes, with time, Garrett can get to the aforementioned vision and be another Payton. On the other side, you have Payton, who has meant everything to New Orleans and the Saints, has a good relationship with his boss, owner Tom Benson, and an amazing one with his quarterback, Drew Brees.
Then, there's the fact that Garrett and Payton were together for three years, Garrett as a player and Payton as a coach, with the New York Giants in 2000-02.
Account for all that muck, and it's clear it would take a pretty ideal situation to pry Payton from New Orleans or convince Jones to dump Garrett. This might just be it.
"Mesh the personal and the professional," said the first source, who worked for Dallas during Payton's time there, "and I'd say that (Payton would) have more reasons to do it than not."
Of course, it might not be that easy. As another source who handles coaching contracts explains it, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell holds the ultimate authority over whether Payton's deal will expire in January or not. Coaching deals have a provision that adopts NFL's Constitution and Bylaws, which empower the commissioner to settle contract disputes. That could bring Payton's rocky relationship with Goodell into play.
"Roger could take the position that, 'When I rule on someone acting in a manner that undermines that public confidence and integrity of the game, I want to ensure that ruling doesn't give an unintended benefit to the violator,' " the source said. "This would be a very messy situation, at best. The deck could be stacked against Sean there."
Then, there's Payton leaving behind what he's built in New Orleans.
Tom Benson is 85 and I'm told Payton has serious reservations about the succession plan. The eventual one in Dallas would be much more appealing to him, but he does have loyalty to Benson who gave him his big shot. One of Payton's ex-players said he thinks "the only way it happens is if something happens health-wise to Mr. Benson." Cutting the cord with Brees also would be extremely difficult for Payton.
Dallas is different. You don't need to worry about the quarterback. Payton tried to trade for Romo, and was shot down by the Cowboys, before he and the Saints acquired Brees in 2006. Payton also was in part responsible for getting Romo to Dallas in the first place, when the QB was a rookie free agent, and was integral to his development.
Power could be an issue. The first source said, "Power over the 53-man roster? Maybe. But final say on picking players? That may be hard." But Payton could use Parcells, who wrested more control from Jones than any coach has, to grease the skids, and the first source said that if Jones had Payton in his sights, "He'd do just about anything."
We're not at that point yet. The Saints can, and will, try to finish now what they thought was done in September 2011, and lock up Payton up long-term. Until then, though, the pressure's on Benson to deliver a deal that would block a franchise-crippling blow. Likewise, the pressure's on Garrett to take the decision out of Jones' hands.
The smart money's still got Payton staying in New Orleans. But at this early juncture, that's no sure thing.
