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Setting aside for now the question of whether the one-year suspension served by Saints coach Sean Payton will push the final year of his contract from 2012 to 2013, a bigger question arises regarding the moment at which Payton’s contract will expire, if 2012 indeed becomes the final year of his contract.

The NFL advises that there is no standard formula promulgated by the league regarding the expiration of coaching contracts, making it an issue resolved case-by-case between teams and the coaches. Some coaching contracts end after the Super Bowl. Some last until the end of February.

Rarely is the precise timing ever an issue, since coaches either get extensions or they get fired long before the day on which the contract would have otherwise evaporated.

In Payton’s case, he would not be free to talk to any other team until his contract with the Saints expires, even if he is reinstated before the Super Bowl.

While this question becomes pertinent only if the Saints insist on Payton honoring his contract to the letter, it gives the franchise a tool for painting Payton into a corner, preventing him from talking to any other teams — and thus forcing those teams to look elsewhere for new coaches — into early February or, possibly, into early March.

Or, in theory, perhaps even later. It all comes down to the specific date when Payton’s contract ends. For now, that’s not known.

But now that we’ve framed up the issue, it likely will be. Soon.

Specific expiration date of Payton contract could become an issue | ProFootballTalk

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Just get it done.

Halo

I hate to say this and I believe in my heart-of-hearts all of this is Payton's agent posturing for the best contract, BUT... if he negotiates with the Saints and plays chicken with Dallas, Philly, Jets.... whoever may have a vacancy, I say let him go.

He's the best coach we've ever had and best coach I've cheered for. That said, he's been in New Orleans since 2006 which would have been 6 going on 7 season in New Orleans had it not been for the suspension. The average long term life span of an NFL coach is 7 seasons in the NFL. Had he dropped a stinker this season and won only 5 or 6 games, people would be negative on him - it's just facts.

His stock is super high without actually coaching this season so his value is based on past performance and not on present performance.

If he wants to be in his beloved Dallas (which we don't know if that's true or not) I don't want to hear about him chasing that "dream" to be with such a successful organization (TOTAL SARCASM) and would rather him go.

Last thing I want to see is a player or coach FORCED to be somewhere over a contract technicality. After this season, I want a solid coaching staff returning next year so we can all see some stability. If SP returned on the final year of his contract on a "technicality" forcing him to return for 1 (one) season, then all this BS with Dallas would spring up again next season and I'm just done with it!!

Joker

I agree with Halo, if the man wants to be here and coach the Saints then fantastic, but if his heart is somewhere else then good bye, see ya have fun with Jerry Jones. Since Jerry has owned the cowboys he's only had 2 successful coaches jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. There are some people that beleive the success that Barry had was due to Jimmy building a team that lasted even after he left. IfmSean Payton wants to follow int the foot steps of many failed coaches including his so called mentor Bill Parcels let him go an stood luck with father and son idiots in Dallas.
I hope he stays but if not good reddens, thanks for all you've done.

vpheughan

Why was the "escape" clause in the extension? He knew where the bodies were buried. He knew the Commish would be out for blood and as he stated in his book he wanted to reside in Dallas and commute to his "job" here. To me it was a way to "leave" without saying "I don't want to coach here any longer." Put the escape clause in, the NFL voids the contract, the GM gets suspended along with the head coach. After all the dust clears, a "free agent." Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see Payton leave but it's obvious to me he really doesn't want to be here.

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

AsylumGuido

Not really. Sometimes there is just smoke that the media is blowing up your ass.

Vrillon82

Really only Jimmy Johnson.

The only reason Jimmy Johnson was the most successful coach Jerry had was most to do with the media putting Jimmy there in Dallas, news media controlled much of who went where back then and prior.

vpheughan

After Brees won the "Franchise Tag" suit his signing with the Saints happened quickly. Why is this taking so much longer? Payton received permission to deal directly with the front office over the extension yet all I hear is the chirping of crickets. Why? I read much on the Brees "holdout", there was no holdout it all came to down to the result of the lawsuit. He won, the Saints knew it and paid. There is something going on that we don't know.

TheOak

His escape clause is the reason he is not going to Dallas. He likes the synergy and work environment with his boss... Mickey Loomis.

Some people stay at a job because they can fully appreciate a good Manager and Mentor. Payton does not strike me as a man whose career aspirations end at Head Coach.

frankeefrank

I truly believe, the deal will be announced a day or two after the Saints season is over.
Why would Payton want to further disrupt a season that has already been a circus?