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.
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- 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
- 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
- Lurie shoulda shipped Fat Boy to Baltimore, and kept Harbaugh...
THAT'S the one that got away.— Nicher - I don't remember the exact stats, but odds of a super bowl winning coach winning again with a new team are VERY low, if not at all...Peyton sounds sexy, but I'd have to take the other side of that one.— mlwmlw
- Don't forget that Payton is a good friend of Parcells, who hates Jerry Jones. Payton was mentored by Parcells.— oharabri
- How's this - he goes to the hospital thinking he had a heart attack but it turns out to be a bad case of indigestion. However, it still scares him enough to retire.— ziggy26
- HOPE THE EAGLES LOSE TOMORROW. SO ANDY REFUSE TO COME BACK TO PHILADELPHIA TO FACE MEDIA AND FANS AND JUST STAY IN NEW ORLEANS,CALL HIS WIFE TO PACK AND FOLLOW HIM DOWN THERE.WE JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT LOCKS DOWN AIRPORT, I 95, AND PORTS SO ANDY REID DOESN'T ENTER IN PHILADELPHIA ANYMORE.— jkazongo
- Payton would be a godsend. He is a metro philly guy and I am sure doesn't want to deal with JR Ewing, I mean Jerry Jones. Lurie is a hands off owner and Payton could mold his team into a winner, such as he did in Bayouville. Best case is Reid goes and Payton comes in for tomorrow nite's game, but that ain't gonna happen.— momzer1812
- Just don't think he will leave NO. He probably feels an obligation to Breeze. We are not competing with Cowboys because Jerry won't pay big money to coaches. Lurie would open up the checkbook.— Drew777
- i too hope the eagles lose the rest of their gamesso that reid gets fired.sad to say ,i hope the cowboys sweep them and beat them real bad,that would almost guarantee reids firing.— swgaston
- Gruden? Hahhahahaha... That's a good one. He wins with Dungy's players, then proceeds to be absolutely horrible until he to run out of Tampa. Be carful what you wish for....
And the system hat Andy runs and his "philosophy" that is so bad to everyone now....not only did it get to 5 NFC title games and a Super Bowl here....it won many SB's in Green Bay and San Francisco. Same offense, same style, SAME PHILOSOPHY.
Vick is the problem. Andy is a quality coach, but a really bad "personnel" executive...— cdedrick05 - There are some things I like about Gruden. First, he'll devise a game plan specific to the opponent, regardless of whether the plan calls for running the ball or passing the ball. Second, if Plan A isn't working he has Plan B, then Plan C, and so on. Actually, most head coaches plan this way, that is except Andy, who says this is what we do (pass the ball) and if we execute properly the opponent won't be able to stop us, even if they know what's coming.
We haven't had an innovative offense since Gruden left town or a good defensive unit since Jim Johnson died and I can't remember the last time our team played an inspired, disciplined game for 60 minutes.
Finally, we need a guy who actually knows how to put his players in a better position to make plays and who's less predictable.
The name of the next Eagles head coach isn't as important as his ability to address the above-mentioned issues.
Gruden, Cowher, Peyton.....any of them would be fine. All we can do for now is hope Lurie sees the light, pulls the plug, then goes out and gets the best guy available.— spaza837 - Payton please. While I like Reid, it's been time for him to go. His "style" is not working. Now that a quality coach, with a grudge no less, is available we should move on it now. By the way Gruden is not a good coach in my opinion. Dungy is.— brownrice
- From your mouth to HIS ears....We would take him in a minute....but cannot see the Saints giving up on him....and would he rather have Drew Brees or Michael as his starter....and he won't do Dallas as JJ is to much of a meddler where in NO or Philly the owner stays out of things......But we can only hope....Gruden got his ring with someone else's team and loves the monehy and the tv stage where everyone genuflects to him......Cowher and Jaws love their jobs.....Chip Kelly would be interesting choice....and Saban would not have a recruiting edge and the players at this level are not intimadated by his hypocraisy and college controlling lying and hype.......— nuggett
