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Pittsburgh -- New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton angrily denied a report Sunday that his relationship with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan had deteriorated amid a three-game losing streak.

Shortly after the Saints beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 35-32 on Sunday at Heinz Field, Payton offered a lengthy defense of his coordinator and dismissed any suggestion that they were on bad terms.

Payton specifically took aim at a report by Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

"Jason gets his information from an old defensive coordinator," said Payton, likely referring to Gregg Williams, although he did not use his name.

Williams was the Saints' defensive coordinator before being suspended in the NFL's bounty investigation. He is currently defensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams.

As for the crux of the report, Payton said it was wrong.

"(Ryan) and I get along. We're doing great," Payton said.

Asked about Ryan's attributes, Payton said he works tirelessly to win.

"Man, I'm telling you what, his toughness and his passion -- he's there 'til when the crickets are gone," Payton said. "It's hard when you're not winning in this league. I love what he's doing. Are there times when we have to look at things? Are there times when I get involved? Absolutely, I'm the head coach.

"But he's doing an outstanding job. You really find out a little bit about everyone when you start losing a few games and you go through a little bit of adversity, because it really hasn't happened around here in a while. Those are the things you appreciate as a head coach. When someone is passionate about teaching, those are the things you appreciate."

Payton has frequently been caught on camera engaged in sideline shouting matches with Ryan, but he said that is just his game-day personality.

"That's me, man," Payton said. "Pick somebody. Pick (special teams coordinator) Greg McMahon. Pick (cornerback) Corey White. Pick (linebackers coach) Joe Vitt. That's just me being fired up. It's more obvious when it's Rob because the camera's going to be on him more than it's going to be on Greg McMahon or a player.

"Yeah, I get upset when there's 12 men on the field. That doesn't mean I'm looking for another defensive coach."

Payton blamed the report -- as well as other stories on Sunday about the Saints' interest in Ray Rice and the future of quarterback Drew Brees -- on "Sunday splash" stories by national reporters.

He said he expects talk of his relationship with Ryan to resurface the next time he is caught yelling on the sideline.

"I'm going to be upset again," Payton said. "You're going to see more clips of it and then Ian (Rapoport) and Adam (Schefter) and you guys can write more reports -- on Sundays though. They won't come out on Thursdays."

Your bonehead creator picked a fine chapter to omit from your memory bank....let me ask you, does a machine like yourself ever experience fear? - Vegeta, DBZ