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 Chip Kelly was the next coach, he would keep Vick for the uptempo game Kelly runs. Don't see Kelly leaving Oregon, has it too good there, and with Nike money, why bother with the headaches of the NFL.— camasbud- Stop with Gruden! I lived in Tampa from 1996 till 2002. Even the players said Dungy deserved credit for Gruden winning. The simple fact is Gruden inherited a team ready to win with a solid defense and Kiffin as D coordinator. Gruden did add a spark on the offensive side that Dungy didn't have but that is it. And it was ridiculous how quickly after losing the core Dungy built Gruden had a losing team.— flyersj1978
- Gruden had a losing team because he was handicapped by the high draft trades and salary cap difficulties and that Tampa Bay had incurred as a result of deals it made with Oakland to acquire Gruden's services. The high draft picks sacrificed by the team to acquire Gruden, along with salary-cap issues and failed draft choices forced upon him by the now-departed Rich McKay (with whom Gruden had a bitter relationship) limited Gruden's ability to field the teams he wanted after that successful Super Bowl-winning season. THAT, and that alone, is the reason Gruden lost "the core Dungy built" . That "Gruden had a losing team". ANY coach would find it difficult to field a decent team under similar circumstances. In addition, your post is full of contradictions. Do your research. Gruden IS a GREAT coach. Great is a superlative reserved for those that are truly great by accomplishing great things. I'd say the Super Bowl qualifies. Andy Reid is not deserving of this adjective. His winning record can be attributed to the ratio of probability after surviving for FOURTEEN YEARS as Head Coach of the Eagles. Odds which would favor ANY former head coach (Marion Campbell, Ray Rhodes, Buddy Ryan, Rich Kotite) any one of whom probably would have won the Super Bowl in LESS than FOURTEEN YEARS given the same opportunity. Andy Reid is a big fat FAIL. — essell
- Gruden ripped that Buc team apart after a Superbowl win with Dungy's players and left them in cap hell..... he got rid of guys to bring in his own washed up veterans that were total has beens. Gruden really took credit for something he didnt build so if you want him here get ready to lose for a long time.— pr0f3ss0r
- See above post, pr0f3ss0r. You guys are relying on hearsay passed down and distorted over a period of time which has taken on a false life of it's own. SMH. — essell
- This is the Eagles, we will Get some no name coordinator with a big stack of notebooks. I would love to get either Payton or Gruden, anyone else would seem like a distant third— yourdaddy!
- Sean Payton can have his pick of jobs. Why come to a dysfunctional organization run by a weak owner with a fantasy football geek GM? The 2010 and 2011 drafts ensured this team is 5 years away. Foles was drafted in the 3rd round by the Eagles which means at best he is a 6th round talent and destined to go the way of Kolb if he is lucky.
— Scope33 - Some interesting comments and some moronic nonsense. Let's try to maintain some perspective. If the Eagles continues to disappoint it will be time for a change. And Coach Reid will have many options and likely eventually succeed with a little luck elsewhere. It's just a game.— mlogan49
- Does Jeff Mclane know how bad his haircut is?— carlosbeltran
- They are going to hire a no name coach. Remember, they are smarter than us all and are out to prove it.— mish798798
- Dallas will never have another big name/proven head coach as long as JJ owns them. No established coach would tolerate JJ's meddling. Payton will probably stay in NO.
- You know, there's 32 teams in the NFL.— bobbyd24
- My favorite Eagles coach of all time was Buddy Ryan. If Ryan had an owner like Lurie the Eagles would have had multiple Super Bowls. Ryan's Bounty Bowls against Dallas were priceless. Troy Aiken still doesn't remember half of the games he played against the Eagles. The Birds under Ryan used to knock him silly. I can't imagine how potent this offense would be under Payton and with Brees at QB. BRING THEM ON.— garcia7
- Ryan had some of the greatest offensive players in those years. He ended up with zero playoff wins because he didn't know how to devise a offensive gameplan.
Buddy's record- 43-38-1
Playoff- 0-3
I would hardly say he was one of the greats. He was certainly a fan favorite. - Why would Payton want to come here? Lurie and Roseman will find some unknown and the idiot fans will still sell out. Lurie will laugh all the way to the bank and we will be ringless.— Pete60
