I'm not happy with 7-9 either, but I'm also not sure that the blame could be slapped solely upon Payton. Those records were based completely upon poor defense, shaky special teams and a slew of injuries. While some of this can be attributed to coaching choices in the past, it does not detract from the fact that the Saints have had the best offense in the league for the past decade.

Personally, I really like the direction the defense is going under Dennis Allen and there are still quite a few key pieces missing due to injury.

It reminds me of the old saying about throwing the baby out with the bath water. Sean Payton is perhaps the best thing that has happened to the Saints from a coaching perspective in the last 50 years. It is quite possible that those 7-9 records would have been 4-12 with ANY available head coach in the same position AND I like the Saints chances moving forward FAR more with Payton at the helm than any other unknown. Another old saying ... watch out what you wish for, you may get it.