Sean Payton delays second Broncos interview, will meet with Cardinals
Sean Payton is a busy man. Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan reports that the previous New Orleans Saints head coach interviewed with the Carolina Panthers on Monday, as was anticipated, earlier than flying out for a Thursday assembly with Arizona Cardinals brass. Payton initially deliberate to fit his second Denver Broncos interview on Wednesday or Thursday, however the Broncos are nonetheless finalizing their very own schedule with numerous candidates so this opened up a window for the Cardinals to suit him in.
It certain doesn’t look like any of those groups view Payton as their high candidate, forward of all others, which could make it much less probably he’ll turn into one of many NFL’s highest-paid coaches. The longer this course of takes to play out, might it turn into extra probably Payton stays with FOX Sports activities? None of those jobs are good alternatives. If a staff will get chilly toes about assembly his contract calls for, he might merely keep within the TV studio one other 12 months and reassess his alternatives in 2024.
That might be unhealthy for the Saints. They desperately must commerce Payton for a primary spherical decide within the 2023 draft after fumbling theirs away final offseason. If Payton stays out of soccer one other 12 months, it severely limits their choices this 12 months and hurts their leverage subsequent offseason. With only one 12 months left on their contract with Payton in 2024, the Saints could be pressured to simply accept lesser commerce packages or threat shedding Payton for nothing within the following cycle.
Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. These groups are clearly keen on Payton’s companies proper now, and these conferences are alternatives for him to face out from the group as a confirmed Tremendous Bowl winner. It’s greatest for New Orleans if he will get moved within the subsequent week or two. Let’s see if that materializes.
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