Milians

Taken from profootballweekly.com:

Parcells’ top offensive aide picked for Saints' job

The Saints named Cowboys assistant head coach Sean Payton, 42, as their new head coach on Wednesday. Payton is considered a creative offensive coach with a QB background. He has an attractive lineage � Payton most recently worked under Bill Parcells in Dallas � and was chosen by general manager Mickey Loomis to lead the Saints back into New Orleans and out of the NFC basement after they finished a conference-worst (based on schedule strength) 3-13 to earn the No. 2 overall draft pick. The Dallas Morning News reported Payton requested permission from the Cowboys to hire LB coach Gary Gibbs as his defensive coordinator and OL coach Tony Sparano as offensive coordinator. Another report tied former Packers coordinator Jim Bates to the Saints.

PFW: Why have so many teams gone for “new blood�?

Reynolds: Payton is the fourth first-time head coach hired this offseason. Retreads, such as Jim Fassel, Mike Martz, Mike Sherman, Dick Jauron, Jim Haslett, Mike Tice and the like have struck out, as only Herman Edwards (Jets to Chiefs) was placed in a vacant job, but he was the candidate that Chiefs president/GM Carl Peterson had targeted all along. The trend in the last two years is to find the diamond in the rough, not to polish an old gem. Current general managers should take notice of what longevity and continuity have meant to this year’s playoff teams. Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan and John Fox have 45 years of collective service at their current posts. In an era when head coaches are afforded a two-year window to turn around meager situations, these four coaches are the exception to that rule. There is no replacement for experience.

PFW: Can Payton have immediate success?

Payton, who coached under Fassel and Bill Parcells and has a background similar to Shanahan’s, replaces Haslett after six seasons with the Saints. The franchise has only one playoff win � Haslett scored that in 2000 � and faced dire circumstances in 2005 as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Faced with ownership, stadium and staffing quandaries, Payton must hit the ground running. Free agency is only six-plus weeks away. Payton needs to assemble a respectable coaching staff to convince free agents that New Orleans can be a destination spot as early as next season. Already, speculation is that Jim Bates, who stepped down from his defensive coordinator post with the Packers on Monday, could join Payton. Coaches will be instrumental in evaluating the current roster and determining areas of strength and weakness. Payton is a renowned QB coach who helped spark resurgences for Kerry Collins, Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe in recent years. That might keep Aaron Brooks, assumed to be a goner after his falling-out with Loomis and Haslett last season, in the picture if a contract restructuring can be worked out. Otherwise, Payton’s hiring is sure to go hand-in-hand with the acquisition of a new starter. The Saints own the No. 2 pick in the draft. It’s possible both Matt Leinart (USC) and Vince Young (Texas) will be on the board at that time, but in any case, one of them will be.

zachsaints52

That might keep Aaron Brooks, assumed to be a goner after his falling-out with Loomis and Haslett last season, in the picture if a contract restructuring can be worked out.

Brooks restructure???? BYE BYE Brooks