Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

By Mike Freeman | National NFL Insider

The question has been a popular one in recent days: Where will exiled coach Sean Payton coach once he returns to the NFL?

The answer might be a simple one. Saints owner Tom Benson is strongly considering making Payton the highest-paid coach in football, according to league sources.

Payton wants to be the highest-paid, and Benson might be willing to accomodate him. Patriots coach Bill Belichick is the NFL's highest paid coach, checking in at a reported $7.5 million per year.

Benson, I'm told, has long thought of Payton as the best coach in football. It was Payton, of course, who made the Saints one of the most unlikely champions in all of sports. Benson has never forgotten what Payton did and wants to reward him for that, I'm told.

Benson also feels strongly that the Saints' slow start to the season (the team is performing better now) isn't as much about Bountygate as it is about not having Payton for the season.

Benson, I'm told, also believes it is imperative to head off any potential suitors. Though it remains unclear what exactly Payton's contractual status will be once he returns, Benson wants to take no chances.

Benson is also extremely loyal to Benson, a loyalty increased by Bountygate. Benson, these sources say, remains extremely irritated over the length of the suspensions. He met with Roger Goodell in August to express his displeasure.

Benson, in effect, wants to stop any possible end run around him to get to Payton. While Payton's name has been linked to the Dallas Cowboys, the belief around the league is the best possible suitor is Philadelphia. It appears increasingly likely that Andy Reid will be fired. The Cleveland Browns should also not be ruled out of any possible Payton sweepstakes.

In the past, Benson was known for not paying his top players or coaches, well, top dollar. Yes, he was considered cheap.

No longer. The contract that Benson gave Drew Brees was one of the richest in league history. Brees received a salary averaging $20 million per season, $60 million in guaranteed money and a $37 million signing bonus.

And it sounds like Benson is about to open his checkbook nice and wide for Payton.

Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL - CBSSports.com

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Making Sean the highest paid coach would rock. It would stick in Rogers side like a hot knife.

Write him a really big check Tommy. It's clear we aren't the same without him.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

There is something nice about a big number on a contract with a $ in front of it!!

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

It kinda pisses me off the end hear the "Payton sweepstakes"

Kinda like the "he's ours back off !!" mentaility here

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Make it happen Benson!

"Benson is also extremely loyal to Benson, a loyalty increased by Bountygate."

I don't know if that was a typo or what, but that made me laugh.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Que?

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

SAY what you want about Benson, with all the **** he put us through in the past, he has turned out to be one of the leagues best and most committed owners.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

wtf does Que mean?

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Pay him.... Just like you paid Brees... We owe SB 44 in no small part to those two men.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Exactly LOL.. WTF was your post, i am still trying to decipher it. :P: :-)

I am in Houston.. Que = what

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

ohh.. The comment about the payton sweepstakes... it kinda pisses me off.
and I need to stop typing on my phone, I should be working :)

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

For years Benson had a used car dealer mentality. Anytime we had a good player Benson would sell him.
He's changed the way he thinks...........you can't take it with you.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

I think at this age he's worried more about his family legacy in sports and business than being cheap. Which I think is a good thing.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Since his contract's been voided, can other teams talk to Sean about a contract right now? And is Benson forbidden from doing it since Payton can have no contact with the Saints?

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

This Drama will go on until Goodell decides what Payton's status will be for next year.

Will this year of the contract "Toll" over to 2013. Godell will make this a difficult as possible, but the quick way is to just offer Payton a new contract and be done with it.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

We might have to cut Benson to sign Payton.

http://www.johnnymaguire.com/wp-cont...nfused-Cat.jpg

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Hard to see how the two sides wouldn't end up with a new contract... I can't really see how either side wouldn't want to commit to one another.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Roger would love nothing more than for us to loose him.I have to say Roger, fu#$ you and ya ho ass dead granny.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Where have you been Forever !

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

We're the only ones that can talk to him at this time....no other team can talk to him until Roger reinstates him and determines What his contract status (whether this suspended year tolls and he has to fufill the last yr of his contract in the 2013-14 season or whether he's FA).

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Pay Da Man!

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

You can say that again. I want this DONE!

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

His contract "extension" was voided. He is still under contract through the Super Bowl. Nobody can talk to him other than the Saints for the next three months.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Money Talks and BS Walks!!!!!!!!! :bng:

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

But he is not allowed to have any contact with the franchise until after the Super Bowl... at least according to how things stand at the moment, but I guess Roger could allow them to have contract talks?!

It just seems that this is just another way to punish the franchise, and that to me seems hardly justifiable given all the punishments already given and, on the other hand, given that there hasn't yet been any concrete evidence presented - at least to the public.

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

The league office has given them verbal approval to be able to get together to work out the contract, but Payton and Loomis have requested approval in written form to cover their butts. For some reason they don't trust Goodell. Go figure.

:D

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

Choke on that ESPN, Mike and Mike, Dan Patrick and any other media slap nut that has already jumped to 2013 and had Sean in Dallas

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

And the bonus should be the same amount of money he would have been paid this year...

Re: Sources: Saints owner considering making Sean Payton highest-paid coach in NFL
 

I don't blame then for wanting it in writing just in case he tries to pull some more ego driven, back ass wards stuff down the road to hose them again