Cowboy Rumors: Former Saint HC Sean Payton Breaks Silence in Dallas

Getty

The Cowboys continue to be associated with Sean Payton.

Sean Payton had barely left the New Orleans Saints before rumors started swirling that the legendary coach could be joining. Dallas Cowboys. Despite a lot of rumors, Payton has dismissed speculation that the Cowboys have contacted him about the possibility of coaching the team next season.

In a January 27 interview on Dan Patrick show, Payton was asked if any teams have been contacted about potentially interested in a sideline switch. Payton dismissed the idea before admitting the two teams had been in contact through back channels but added that the franchise would have to contact the Saints as he is still technically under contract.

“Not one [team]… Well, they will have to reach out to the Saints,” explained Payton. “And look, you know this, you can have a back door [communication], ‘Hey, are you interested?’ That could happen with a few clubs, but I’m not looking at that path right now. At some point, I didn’t think I was done with coaching, but I was so excited when I got two or three calls and texts from people in the TV industry.”

Patrick speculates that the two teams are the Cowboys and the Bears, but Payton denies that these are two organizations.

Below is a picture of Payton discussing his life since he stepped away from football.

ALL the latest Dallas Cowboys news delivered straight to your inbox! Participation Heavy news about Cowboys here!

Join the Heavy on Cowboys!

Payton’s Shadow Looms Over McCarthy, Analyst Says

ESPN’s Todd Archer takes note that “Payton’s shadow will cast over Mike McCarthy of the Cowboys.” Archer suggested that the only way to silence some of the speculation was if Cowboys owner Jerry Jones publicly quashed the rumors and officially returned to McCarthy, which he refused to do in the interview. January 21 most recently on Dallas ‘105.3 the Fan.

“You don’t have to make multiple connections to watch Payton train the Cowboys, which is something Jones has thought long and hard about many times since losing Payton to New Orleans in 2006,” Archer explained. like on January 25th.

“If Jones wants to be essentially fair to Mike McCarthy, he needs to trade for Payton – as the Saints still own the rights under his contract – or come out and say McCarthy is his coach. that. Of course, that won’t end speculation. But it at least alleviates some of the chatter between now and when the regular season begins. “

Cowboys Almost Traded for Payton in 2019: Report

The Cowboys may not have been in contact with Payton (yet), but rumors are heating up because of the team’s past connections with the veteran coach. Payton is not only a former Cowboys assistant, but Jones almost exchanged for a coach in 2019, Mike Florio of per Pro Football Talk. The NFL insider recounted the story in an excerpt from his new book “Playmakers: How the NFL Really Works (And Doesn’t).”

“It’s a delicate situation, for many reasons,” Florio wrote of the 2019 negotiations between the Cowboys, Saints and Payton. “First, the Cowboys have a coach. Jones won’t fire Garrett unless he knows he can get Payton. Second, the league rules (specifically the Rooney Rule) require a diverse and inclusive search. Third, Jones must eventually learn that, after going through the motions of the search, he will be able to obtain Payton.

“So a deal was made, behind the scenes. The Saints will allow the Cowboys to hire Payton. The Cowboys would have compensated the Saints for Payton’s contractual rights. And Payton should have signed a new contract with the Cowboys. ”

In the end, the Saints chilled to the deal, and the Cowboys stuck with Jason Garrett. A year later, the Cowboys decided not to bring back Garrett and hired McCarthy. Even if Payton continues to sit out this season, fans can expect the rumors to heat up even more if the Cowboys struggle in 2022.