The Saints currently have a championship-caliber roster but are without a head coach. As you know, Sean Payton has been suspended for an entire year as part of the Saints’ punishment for running a bounty program, effective April 1. New Orleans is one of the best teams in the NFC, but the loss of Payton for a season could set them back significantly. As the team looks for an interim replacement, Payton has reportedly reached out to Bill Parcells.
According to ESPN’s Chris Mortenson, Payton would be interested in having someone like Parcells with Super Bowl experience fill his shoes next season. The two worked together in Dallas from 2003-2005 when Payton served as an assistant coach under Parcells. One source said he believes Parcells would consider it but doubt it will happen.
“As a friend of Sean’s and a football guy, I’m sure he’d consider it but they’re talking about a lot of things,” the source explained. “In the end, I don’t think it would happen. It makes sense but it’s complicated.”
I’m not even sure this makes sense from a football standpoint. Parcells’ resume speaks for itself, but he’s the type of coach that comes to a team and takes over the culture. Parcells has had success with a number of different teams because he’s a tremendous football mind who expects a lot from his players. The Saints are looking for a temporary fill-in, not an authoritarian potential Hall of Famer like Parcells. They already have a good thing going in New Orleans and simply need to weather the storm. I’m not sure that’s a role that makes sense for Parcells.
Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE
