You couldn't tell by the pitiful performance the Saints put up against the Redskins today, but this is actually a well-coached team. And the Saints put their faith in their leader earlier today when they announced the extension of Sean Payton's contract for another three years, through 2012.Payton's in the third year of a four-year deal, and the Saints tacked on the extra years with an apparent raise, though the dollar amount of the contract hasn't been announced.
It's not surprising that the Saints extended Payton. Though his overall record (18-16 with a 1-1 playoff mark) doesn't seem incredibly impressive, Payton has changed the culture in New Orleans and given the team a new attitude after 40 mostly stagnant years. He took hem to the NFC Championship game in 2006, the farthest the franchise had ever gone, and won Coach of the Year in the same season. He's also made them an elite offense and is building a promising core on defense, factoring heavily in all personnel moves. Not to be understated, he's also served as an excellent ambassador and public figure in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Besides that, the Saints are very coach-friendly, looking to give their leaders the benefit of the doubt. They've been looking for a guy they can keep for the long haul like Mike Shanahan in Denver and Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, but struck out on Mike Ditka and Jim Haslett. They're very confident they've got that guy now in Payton. Of course, fortunes change on a dime in the NFL, and another couple of sub-.500 seasons can change things drastically.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-14-2008 @ 8:15PM
Jared said...
I was waiting for the "Saints Lay an Egg" post. Glad they locked up Payton for longer, but that game was disgusting so I have to comment. Special teams play kept this one closer than it should have been (good ST for us and bad ST for them). The O was flat and the D is turning into a Jekyll and Hyde case. No pass rush and thus no pass defense. How many times can Moss make plays before they roll coverage that way?
Of course it's too early to pinpoint any trends when you're missing Colston, McKenzie, Gay, Fujita, Stecker, Hollis, Harper and Deuce getting a whole two carries. That's six to seven starters if you're counting.
That game killed me. But glad to see Meachem got a TD.
Reply
9-21-2008 @ 8:01PM
Vern said...
I have to say it is great to get the extension but for the LOVE of GOD someone please talk to Peyton about his decision making in the fourth quarter the last three games. We were lucky our defense made the stop against Tampa after Peyton took the ball out of Drew Brees's hands by trying to run the ball without getting the first down. Our run game is horrific without Deuce for short yardage. I don't know if there is a pride thing going on or if he is trying to prove he can do it without Deuce but he needs to get onboard and remember that we need to win the games and he has lost two in a row for us now. Why on earth would you not put Deuce in for the goal line or for the third down play if your going to run the ball against Denver? Why would you stop throwing the ball after driving the field when Denver's Defense was unable to stop the Saints Passing Game? Why would you just try to settle for holding on to a lead against Washington instead of driving to put the game away? Peyton needs to stop trying to run the clock because you have proven it over and over again we can't run the clock running the ball and now we have dropped two games we should have won. Our players have played their hearts out and Peyton has not made the right calls or put the ball in the number one assets hands. DREW BREES!!!!!!!!!! And play Deuce!!! Did Deuce make Peyton made? Is Peyton trying to punish the fans by basicly laying the game down at the end of each game instead of trying to win? You have to use your best players to win and I'm sorry but Pierre Thomas is not close to being the best player. Why settle for the field goal instead of getting the first and getting closer for the field goal when you know Gramatica was already having an off day when he missed the 50 yarder earlier and you put him in the same situation. I've been a Saints fan for a long time and it is getting very painful to see so much talent not getting the win they deserve especially when the game comes down to the final minutes and the head coach runs the ball with an ineffective run game trying to work the clock, without Deuce and doesn't use Drew Brees and the receivers when the Defense wasn't stopping them and he had plenty of time in the pocket to get the ball out.
Reply