SmashMouth

The news, as broken on Monday’s PFT Live, that the Dolphins had planned to pursue Sean Payton to coach the team and Tom Brady to play quarterback, entails many layers and levels. Let’s focus, for now, on the wrinkle that the Dolphins sought permission from the Saints to speak to Payton, and that the Saints declined.

First, the Dolphins likely didn’t make that request as a shot in the dark, without any knowledge as to whether Payton would have been interested in taking the job. These things have a way of working out unofficially and behind the scenes, as they did when Payton nearly left the Saints to become coach of the Cowboys in 2019, the details of which are set forth in Playmakers. Three years ago, the unrelated-but-related effort by Pelicans forward Anthony Davis to leave town killed the Payton-to-Dallas deal. This year, even after Payton left the Saints, something kept New Orleans from letting the process play out.

More here.