Some Saints players have already been in touch with Payton to let him know they are behind him, and starting right tackle Zach Strief said on Friday players “owe it” to their embattled coach to come closer together, live up to the standards he set during the past six seasons and do everything they can to win in his honor while he is away.

“This season is going to take on an us-versus-the-world mentality,” Strief said. “The perception at this point is not positive with us. We’ve worked very hard, I know as players, to gain respect, not only as a good team but as a good group of guys. That perception will go completely out the window now, and I think that’ll be kind of a rallying cry for us. It will give us a chance to kind of come together closer than we’ve ever been and say, `Look, nobody wants us to even win anymore, and we’re going to win for each other, and for coach Payton and Mickey and the guys that essentially took this fall.”’

Looks like the message may have been started within the players already...

Payton takes responsibility for Saints scandal
By BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer



If it puts a chip on shoulder of an offensive player like that, I wonder what the defensive players' attitudes are?

Not only is revenge a dish best served cold, but the best revenge is to be successful ... success is the best revenge ... now get out there and win yourselves the Division ... again.