AsylumGuido

Sean Payton once again masters the game of quarterback misinformation

Posted by Mike Florio on December 18, 2020, 10:31 AM EST

Four weeks ago, Saints coach Sean Payton led everyone to believe that Jameis Winston, not Taysom Hill, would replace Drew Brees as the team’s starting quarterback. Hill got the start, along with three more. Today, Payton once again has demonstrated his brilliance when it comes to manipulating quarterback information.

With all signs pointing to Brees sitting out one more game, Payton has pulled the ol’ switcheroo by making it known that Brees will return to the starting lineup on Sunday.

The development contradicts all available evidence and supposition. On Sunday, Jay Glazer of FOX called a Brees return on Christmas Day against the Vikings “more of a viable target” than a Week 15 resumption of duties against the Chiefs. On Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media said Brees won’t play until he’s “asymptomatic.” On Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (who reported that Brees will start) highlighted Payton’s press-conference comment that Brees still has “a ways to go” and that “we’re not gonna just hurry [Brees] back and just put him in the game.”

Now, with the Chiefs quite possibly having spent the bulk of the week preparing for Hill, they (and the rest of us) find out that Brees will be the guy. It’s a genius move, with no real downside for Payton — and a significant potential upside in the form of, possibly, an unprepared Chiefs Defense and an opportunity to score a much-needed upset win, if the Saints hope to secure the No. 1 seed.

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

WhoDat!656

I doubt SP fooled anyone, especially not Andy Reid.

AsylumGuido

Do you think that Reid spent all of his time planning for Brees as the starter? If not then it had to have some detrimental effect.

bobdog86

i think any time there's a change like this, it has to change the prep somewhat...I just have to believe with coach Reid, it won't be that difficult as say some other organizations.

WhoDat!656

Coach Reid knows what Brees is and isn't capable of; no need to devote a lot of time on film study.

But if Reid and Spags spent a lot of time trying designing defenses to confuse Taysom, then that time and effort has been wasted.

AsylumGuido

I can see that from an offensive viewpoint which is Reid's specialty, but it would have been the defensive staff preparing for Hill and then having to dump it all for Brees at the 11th hour.

AsylumGuido

Exactly. That is valuable time lost. In this COVID world practice and preparation time is at a premium.

bobdog86

Possibly, I just believe as an organization it will have less of an impact than most.

AsylumGuido

Possibly, but some impact is better than none. One missed assignment due to last minute changes can mean the difference.

ChrisXVI