Could the Eagles chase Sean Payton?
The multi-year contract extension Sean Payton signed with the Saints in 2011 was voided by the NFL within the year, making the suspended head coach a free agent after this season.
Could the Eagles chase Sean Payton?
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The multi-year contract extension Sean Payton signed with the Saints in September 2011 was voided by the NFL within the year, making the suspended head coach a free agent after this season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
In the report, Schefter mentions the Dallas Cowboys as the most likely team to chase the Super-Bowl winning coach, but the Eagles would certainly have to be considered among others that would want Payton.
The Eagles, of course, still have a head coach. But Andy Reid's hold on his job is slipping with his team 3-4 and the Eagles in jeopardy of failing to show the "substantial improvement" owner Jeffrey Lurie said the team must show for Reid to return for a 15th season.
The Eagles finished 8-8 last season and have not won a playoff game since 2008. Reid has another year left on his contract, but Lurie said in August he would not consider a possible extension until after this season.
The Saints announced an extension with Payton last year that would keep him in New Orleans until 2015. But the deal was voided because of his role in "Bountygate," in which the NFL said that Saints defensive players were rewarded for taking out opposing players.
Some believe Payton would likely re-negotiate a contract with the Saints when he returns from a one-year suspension because of his relationship with owner Tom Benson. The 48-year-old, though, has ties to several teams that could be in search of a new coach after the season.
Dallas would be an obvious destination. Payton was an assistant coach with the Cowboys from 2003-05 and he recently purchased a home in the Dallas area. Current Cowboys coach Jason Garrett still has two years left on his contract and would need to have a disastrous second half of the season, some around the team believe, to not return.
Payton was the Eagles' quarterbacks coach from 1997-98 when Lurie was early in his tenure as Eagles owner. He briefly lived in Newtown Square, Pa. as a youth and has spoken fondly of his time living in the area.
He once told a story about standing on Route 202 with a sign celebrating one of the Flyers' Stanley Cup titles in the 1970s.
A lot would have to occur for Payton to end up in Philly. Considered one of the best offensive minds in the game, he would have to find the Eagles' quarterback situation appealing to come back. Michael Vick has three years left on his contract, but he's guaranteed only $3 million. Rookie Nick Foles is an unknown entity.
If the Eagles' season continues to go down the tube, the candidates to replace Reid will only grow. There are the obvious big names, like Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden, former Super Bowl-winning coaches that have become broadcasters. There are also hot college coaches like Oregon's Chip Kelly and Alabama's Nick Saban.
If Lurie hired Gruden it would only be a matter of time before Eagles' fans grew tired of seeing Chucky's facial expressions. Trust me, I moved to the Tampa area in '95 and I watched how the Bucs' fans bashed him when his team started to go down hill. You think Lurie is a bad owner?! The Glazers are the epitome of bad owners!— spz74- WHO DAT?
Gonna sack Ron Mexico and help Fat Andy retire?— BigHittas - Why is it that bad behaviour is ALWAYS rewarded in professional sports ..... and Wall Street.... as long as it leads to THAT SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS!— dsg00
- First of all, what makes everyone so sure Reid is gone? If they go 10-6 and win a wildcard game, will Lurie fire him? Eagles traditionally a 2nd half of the season team.
But if he does get fired, give me a seasoned coach, not another first-timer.— mportik - Do you seriously think this team will win SEVEN more games (to get to 10 wins) this season with the schedule they have? I realistically don't see more than three or four wins (including splits with Dal and Wash):
NO - Loss
Dal - Split
WAS - Split
CAR - Loss
Dal - Split
Tampa - Maybe
Cinci - Loss
WAS - Split
NYG - if they are resting players we'll still lose!
— gdibig - He's dreaming obviously. These are the Philadelphia Eagles we're talking about. The Philadelphia Eagles led by the bumbling, stumbling, fumbling tandem of Andy Reid and his idiot sidekick- Need I say it?- Marty Moronweg. — essell
- I gotta say, ever since he's been suspended from the league, he now has the perfect mentality for the team and should fit right in with the new Eagles "Felons and Frauds" team they are putting together! Maybe get Ray Rice, Donte Stallworth, and Ben Roethlisberger to round out the felons/felon wanna-be's!— gdibig
- What is it with you people. Every year you keep throwing out names of coaches that you think could replace Reid. How many times does Cowher and Gruden have to tell you noodnincs they are NOT coming back to coaching. Amazing how people forget it took Cowher 13 years to win his Sper Bowl. Gruden used the ex coaches players to win his Super Bowl then was never competitive again! If your going to replace Reid it has to be with a top notch coordinator who is ready to move up. If you want a retread go back to the NHL, the NBA or MLB.— sdking1112
- Tony Dungy would build an excellent defense, given enough time to go through two or three drafts. Sean Payton is an excellent game-day coach, creator of mismatches, and clock manager. It is hard to know how well he'd perform with a run-of-the-mill QB, but a long playoff run is unlikely. No matter who Lurie hires as a head coach, it will not matter a bit if he does not first establish a legitimate front office. What the best franchises in the game all have is depth of credible front office personnel, by which I mean talented, competitive dogs who hustle for and answer to a savvy top dog. Green Bay, Pittsburgh and New York all have teams that are run by admired and recognized front offices. Granted, all these teams have franchise QB's, but that is no coincidence - each organization knew what it needed, and went out and got it. In the case of the Giants it was a tad on the melodramatic side, but, 2 titles later - who's complaining? Notice that none - not Coughlin, not Tomlin, not McCarthy - none of these coaches have ever been invited into their respective front offices. And if any of these three were to step down or move on or die, I don't think any of these teams would miss a beat. Lurie should hire Bill Polian and son. That would be a great start on the road to credibility— gnarlyscuzz
- can someone help me understand why when the eagles beat the cowboys probably twice this year everyone will be happy again and keep putting up with this BS.— wacoken
- Whoever replaces Andy needs to be confident, aggressive with the draft & free agency, and know how to manage the game clock. No more "business-like manners or corporate mindsets"...this is freakin pro football and you need to be aggressive and ready to get hurt and play old school. Look at Baltimore, NY Giants, SF 49'ers. Lurie, if you want to win, let the men play this game the way it's supposed to be played.— sj1926
- CHIP KELLY..ALL DAY
— teenwolf - And why would Payton leave New Orleans? More importantly, why would he come here?— dlivesay
If I were the owner I would be on Sean Payton like a dog on a pork chop. His ability to game plan and make in game adjustments is a significant upgrade from the current coach. I wish Andy Reid nothing but good luck in his future endeavors and thank him for his service. One thing is for certain, he has no future in broadcasting - thank goodness.— bigcityballer
