Sean Payton may be under contract until 2017 with the New Orleans Saints but the buzz right now is that he may be parting soon unless the Saints find a way to start improving this season.
The Saints are already coming off a dismal 2014-15 season which saw them go 7-9 and the first losing season since 2007. Right now, lady luck is not helping as well with the Saints toting a woeful 1-4 record.
Trying to make up for a slow start seems like a tall order right now for Payton and the Saints, particularly with that drubbing they got against the Philadelphia Eagles (39-17).
As it stands now, the Saints may have to rebuild if they are to see improvements within.
And it may all start with a change in the helm despite the fact that Payton has a Lombardi trophy to show. And being a Super Bowl coach, he isn’t expected to be left jobless for long.
In fact, there are several teams already making inquiries on Payton. The Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts are looking into Payton’s status though that list of interested teams could swell in the coming months.
The Dolphins seem to be a frontrunner in the race for Payton’s services, seeing that he has close ties with interim coach Dan Campbell. Both were together with the Dallas Cowboys.
Campbell is temporarily taking over after previous Dolphins coach Joe Philbin got the boot.
If the Dolphins are indeed decided in landing Payton, a possible trade-off could ensue. It could include some draft picks that could make sense since the Saints will technically be in rebuilding mode soon.
For the Colts, interest in Payton could rev up if Chuck Pagano does not return next year. With Payton’s offensive mastery, he could end up working with Andrew Luck which could be beneficial for the Colts if such materializes and goes well.
It is expected that other teams like the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers could be joining the race for Payton soon. But the most important thing before moving forward on possibly getting Payton is his real status with the Saints.
Apparently the decision to simply part with Payton (who has repeatedly denied his alleged separation next year) will not be easy for the Saints. But with two seasons of losing, New Orleans would want to get back on the winning track.
To do that, new blood would be needed to recharge the Saints. A change at the helm could also work though that Super Bowl title is something that could hold back management from severing ties with Payton.