"We can impact people's lives in a positive way as they go through this transition," Payton said. "I think this area, this community, this region is tough, and our team better reflect that, too."

He added he would not let go of any of Haslett's assistants without meeting with them first, but expected to bring in some of his own people.

Payton declined to comment on whether he thought Brooks should stay, saying it would be unfair to any players on the roster to decide their fate without studying more film of them.

"There's too many games each weekend that are won in the last two minutes, less than seven points, and I think the teams that win those games on a consistent basis are the teams that ... do all the small things well in the offseason," Payton said. "It's not OK to be offsides. It's not OK to be late."

"I just want to win. So we're going to play the best players and we'll see what happens," he said.