It appears that Sean Payton won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, at least for now. On Monday, he said on the Saints Coach’s Show with WWL in New Orleans that he plans to honor his contract with the team.
Sean Payton says his plan is ‘definitely to be back’ with the Saints
Rumors have been flying about Payton’s job the past couple of seasons, but he claims he isn’t going anywhere.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
“My plan is definitely to be back here,” Payton said. “And, shoot, I’ve got four more years on a contract here, and I plan on honoring that.”
ESPN’s Mike Triplett said that Payton reiterated that it’s difficult to respond to reports that come out during the season, and if unnamed sources had names on them.
Rumors were going around last season that Payton would be leaving the Saints via a trade to the Colts, and then he ended up signing an extension with the Saints good for five years.
The team has missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons now. The Saints started off 0-3 on the season, with losses to the Raiders, Giants, and Falcons.
Despite finishing 7-9 this season, the Saints had the league’s top-ranked offense in terms of yards per game. That was countered with a defense ranked 27th, something that the Saints have been trying to solve for some time now.
Payton has unquestionably been the best coach the franchise has ever seen. Since his arrival in 2006, the Saints have been to the playoffs five teams, and won Super Bowl XLIV, something that once seemed impossible for a franchise famous for its fans that wore paper bags over their faces.
For now, Payton appears to be staying put based on his own words, but you can never be sure in the NFL.
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