jeanpierre

In the NOLA television market, Eric Asher hosts a real good sports talk show Inside New Orleans Sports on WLAE (that show, Sherlock and the occasional historical documentary are about all I watch on PBS now - too much liberal bias on the news for me, a moderate)...

He has many of the local writers and sports alum with credibility on the show...

Am absolutely in agreement with you on credibility of LaCanfora and Rappaport...

But even Asher's guest are saying (and even Jim Henderson on his show) that Payton hasn't definitively come out with statement that put this noise to rest as he did last year...

Point is there''s definitely real smoke going on besides these national bafooons...

Much of the local people "in the know" think the reason why Payton may have his associates promoting his brand or market is because of the ownership future of the team...

And that seems like valid discussion and more likely context to Payton's future with the team...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

AsylumGuido

Actually Payton did address it on January 2nd of this year.

Sean Payton gives strong statement on plans to stay with Saints

Sean Payton gave his strongest statement yet that he plans to stay with the New Orleans Saints on his weekly WWL Radio show Monday night.

"My plan is definitely to be back here. Shoot, I've got four more years on my contract here. And I plan on honoring that," said Payton, who had mostly refused to answer any questions on the subject before that point.

Earlier Monday, Payton told reporters that it would be "silly" to answer such speculation every time it comes up.

Payton also strongly denied reports from ESPN, NOLA.com and other outlets that he met with Saints general manager Mickey Loomis after Sunday's game to discuss his coaching future. Payton said he and Loomis always meet after games.

"[The report] about Mickey and I meeting was completely false," Payton said. "Mickey and I for the last 11 years after every game share the same locker room [on the road]. We come in, we have a Gatorade, we talk."


Sean Payton'€™s departure would be buzzkill for optimistic Saints
With the Saints feeling like they're headed in the right direction, losing coach Sean Payton would be a significant blow.
A source told ESPN that Payton's future was discussed during Sunday's conversation, though, and that it would continue to be discussed into this week, as the Saints try to determine whether Payton will keep coaching in New Orleans or Loomis would be willing to explore a trade with another team.

Payton said his first question to Loomis was whether the officials made the right call when they overturned a touchdown catch made by Saints tight end Coby Fleener -- which is typical of such conversations.

"We go through every penalty. Then we get a cheeseburger and we get on the plane," Payton said. "But if I'm going to answer questions to a report like that that's inaccurate, then we only just feed or turn the rumor mill, so I won't. And that's just the way it is, and you know what? That's tough."

Asked if he would like to send assurances to players, fans and assistant coaches, Payton tersely responded, "No, you don't speak for the fans. You think you do, but you don't. The fans actually get tired of reports like [Sunday's] that aren't accurate.

"I was excited to hear the response of our veteran players to the same questions you're asking me, and those were, 'Listen, spit out sources, clear up the story that you claim to have, and then we'll answer the question.' But otherwise we're not going to answer questions every week based on someone else's Twitter scoop. It's silly.

"I know the Saints' [spokesperson] took that position ... and I saw and listened to our players' responses, and mine are the same. ... There's no accountability there when it comes to, for instance, Mickey and I met last night for an hour after the game. It's completely false. So why would we answer questions about stories that way when they're not accurate to begin with?"

Payton did not address the NFL Network report that he and the Los Angeles Rams have shown mutual interest in exploring a possible trade, or the NOLA.com report that the Rams are expected to seek permission to interview him this week and that the Saints would be willing to explore a trade.

A source told ESPN that the Rams have so far been concentrating on available coaching candidates but that Payton could emerge as a candidate.


Sean Payton struck back against reports that he is considering leaving the Saints this offseason.

Such reports were even more prevalent throughout last season, before Payton ultimately decided to stay in New Orleans and re-up with a five-year contract worth more than $9 million per season. The San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts emerged as potential suitors, but the interest wasn't strong enough to sway Payton away.

However, the Rams could prove to be the X factor if the mutual interest is sincere. They are a big-market team with a ready-made defense and a young quarterback, Jared Goff, whom Payton liked during the pre-draft process last year.

One element the Rams are lacking is draft picks after sending their 2017 first- and third-rounders to the Tennessee Titans when they traded up for Goff last year. As such, it will be interesting to see what the Saints would require in exchange for Payton -- and whether the Rams would be willing to pay that price.

Although Loomis and Saints owner Tom Benson might be willing to explore a mutually beneficial trade, this is not a case in which the Saints are eager to push Payton out the door and start from scratch.

A source told ESPN last week that the Saints are happy with the direction their young team has been taking this season, despite a third straight 7-9 finish. The source refuted an NFL Network report that morale is lower in New Orleans this season than it was last year, saying it's quite the opposite.


Players and coaches have expressed the same level of optimism, with quarterback Drew Brees comparing the current vibe around the Saints to when they went 7-9 and 8-8 in the two years before winning a Super Bowl in the 2009 season.

Brees brushed off the Payton reports as speculation on Monday as the Saints held their exit meetings.

"[I'm not going to] believe everything I hear that's floating around until I have the opportunity to talk to everybody face-to-face," Brees said. "All this is very speculative. So we're talking hypotheticals here. Listen, we deal with things as they come, but I just don't expect that to happen."

Brees said he has "not gone there mentally" when asked if he could imagine playing for another coach in New Orleans. But he insisted the talk is not a distraction.

"If anything, it's tough for me, because as the quarterback you want to win football games, and that's what solves this problem. That's what makes all this stuff go away," Brees said. "We are in a results-driven business. And when the expectation level is playoffs and any time you fall short of what your expectations and goals are, then obviously there's going to be speculation."

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

jeanpierre

Seer1

Has he ever coached for a winning team?

K Major

Nolan would be a solid hire. Tons of experience and could provide valuable input with this upcoming draft class on defense.

Danno

yes

ChrisXVI

Yeah I think Nolan would be a damn fine LB coach.

jeanpierre

This man is irreplaceable right now, let Payton take Loomis but not this guy...

jeanpierre

Saints Wanted Gus Bradley As LB Coach

jeanpierre

Local boy (Baton Rouge, LA) lettered four years at USC as a Tight End and Long Snapper, played for the Colts and Lions...

...has coached Special Teams and Linebackers...