New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has two years remaining on his current contract and has given no indication to this point that he's interested in coaching elsewhere in 2016. And yet rumors and reports continue to swirl that Payton could wind up the boss of a new NFL franchise come next season. After word had emerged that the Miami Dolphins have made Payton their top choice after firing Joe Philbin during their recent bye week, Payton's potential to actually jump ship seems to have increased, in the media, if not necessarily in his mind. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported on Thursday, ahead of Payton and the Saints' game against NFC South rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, that Payton is actually "open to" discussing other potential head coaching opportunities next year.
Citing "people familiar with Payton's thinking," Rapoport indicated while appearing on NFL Network's "Around the NFL" that the longtime Saints head coach is willing to entertain offers, though they very well could amount to nothing.
Earlier this week, Payton addressed the report, from ESPN, that the Dolphins were among the teams potentially looking to bring him aboard this offseason. During a conference call with reporters ahead of Thursday night's game, he made it clear that he loves New Orleans and has made a happy and comfortable home there for his family.
"That comes up yearly now, not just every three or four years. I mean, that came up, shoot, my second, third, fifth, ninth -- I mean, pick a year -- and you just gotta make sure that the players, coaches, everyone understands what the focus us."
While that may sound good to Saints fans hoping Payton remains with the team, there's really little else he can say. His focus is surely on the here and now and beating the Falcons, but when the season ends and the ownership issues facing the Saints rear their head again, his focus could very well be in and/or on another NFL city.
