The New Orleans Saints snapped a three-game losing streak on Sunday with a 35-32 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Sean Payton was very complimentary of his team's defensive coordinator after the game.
Sean Payton says relationship with Rob Ryan is ‘great’
Sean Payton addressed a previous report that he and Rob Ryan “strongly dislike each other.”
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported on Sunday that Rob Ryan’s time as defensive coordinator of the Saints could be reaching its conclusion. Citing sources within the organization, La Canfora said that Ryan and Payton “strongly dislike each other” and the team would likely part ways with Ryan after the season.
Payton specifically addressed La Canfora’s report on Sunday, telling reporters after the game that the CBS Sports reporter “gets his information from an old defensive coordinator.“ After calling his relationship with Ryan “great,” Payton raved about the work of the defensive coordinator:
”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.”
Ryan took over as the defensive coordinator of the Saints in 2013 and had the task of turning around a New Orleans defense that finished as the NFL’s worst in 2012. The team finished 2013 with the fourth-fewest points allowed, but has regressed in 2014 and currently ranks 31st in yardage allowed.
The Saints are currently tied with the Atlanta Falcons for first in the NFC South, but are on the losing end of a tiebreaker between the two teams due to a Week 1 loss to the Falcons. After games against the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears, the Saints will have a rematch against the Falcons before finishing the regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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