Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Rick Cleveland: Keep Payton

You are the New Orleans Saints. You have had three straight seasons with seven victories vs. nine defeats. You are under contract to pay your head coach, Sean Payton, $45 million over the next five seasons.

But the Los Angeles Rams – and possibly other teams – reportedly want to talk to Payton about becoming their head coach. It well could be that the Rams want to make a deal to secure Payton.

So, Saints, what do you do?


Here's what I would do. I first would determine what Payton wants to do. I mean, what he really wants to do. If he wants to coach elsewhere, let him have at it. Because, for $9 million a year, I can find another coach, another really good one.

But if Payton wants to continue to coach the Saints – if he's all in – then I am, too, at least for one more season.

It may sound silly with the record being the same for the third straight season, but the Saints made progress this season. They did. The makings are there to return to winning ways – and the playoffs – in 2017.

Offensively, Drew Brees has yet to show his age. He threw for more than 5,000 yards this season. He remains as accurate as any quarterback in the sport. That he did not make the Pro Bowl for a 10th time is a miscarriage of justice. He remains capable of delivering a championship. And, yes, his relationship with Payton is one of the biggest arguments for retaining Payton if he's all in.

But there's more. The Saints had two 1,000-yard receivers, including rookie Michael Thomas, who in one season has become one of the league's best. They have a 1,000-yard rusher in Mark Ingram. They have an offensive line that was clearly improved this season.

Defensively? The Saints finished 27th of 32 NFL teams in total defense, which is up from 31st a year ago. But they would have been far better if not for a series of injuries in the secondary. They became much better in their front seven. They played with more purpose under coordinator Dennis Allen. They could make a huge jump next season, particularly if they use their No. 11 draft pick for an impact player on that side of the ball.

Special teams? The Saints became much better after bringing in an additional coach the third week of November. Kevin O'Dea made a difference, but it was too late. Don't forget the Saints lost three games earlier in the season because of the inability to make a kick. The Giants beat the Saints 16-13 by returing a blocked field goal for their only touchdown in a 16-13 victory. The Denver Broncos blocked an extra point and returned it for two points in a 25-23 victory. Do the math. Another blocked field goal caused a 10-point swing when the Carolina Panthers beat the visiting Saints 23-20. Change three kicks and 7-9 becomes 10-6. The Detroit Lions got the last wild card berth at 9-7.

Following that Carolina loss on Nov. 17, Will Lutz made his last 12 field goals. That would seem a major problem solved heading into the off-season.

On Feb. 7 it will have been seven years since the Saints and Payton claimed the Lombardi Trophy with a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Since then, the Saints have been 11-5, 13-3, 7-9, 11-5, 7-9, 7-9, 7-9.

Ordinarily, four 7-9s in seven years after a Super Bowl would get you fired. Instead, the Saints pay Payton $9 million to coach in hopes he can rekindle the magic of 2009.

My take: One more year...

•••

Rick Cleveland (rcleveland@mississippitoday.org) is a Jackson-based syndicated columnist.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

As long as the Saints are stuck with Brees' aircraft carrier-sized salary cap killing contract the Saints will never make the playoffs.

Anonymous said...

Trade Brees...keep Payton.

Bree's is in the start of the end of his career. Trade him for a couple of draft picks and send him on his way

Anonymous said...

Brees is killing the team's ability to sign impact defenders with his monster contract. He needs to renegotiate down, or be cut or traded. He's almost as harmful to the team as he is beneficial. Honestly, my vote is pull the band aid and part ways with both.

Anonymous said...


I say get rid of Payton---he should have been banned for life after paying bonuses to cripple other players---what a sorry Bastard !!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dare say the 9 picks Brees threw in the 1-4 stretch beginning with the Denver game hurt way more than the special teams foibles.

Cleveland is such a stupid friggin' homer. It is four 7-9s in the last FIVE seasons. And how many disastrous Payton free agent signings to we have to endure?!?!?!

Start the rebuild NOW while the dynamic WR core is young and healthy. Get rid of Payton AND Brees AND Jairus Byrd AND Coby Fleener.

Anonymous said...

Brees re-upped last year for less money. Keep them both. This young team will win big in 2017

Anonymous said...

Brees didn't take no pay cut. He got another $25 million guaranteed.

Anonymous said...

It takes a saints article to reveal the intelligence level of people that post on this blog. Get rid of Payton and Brees? What idiots.

Anonymous said...

@10:38. If you like mediocre performance....certainly.

Of course, it is the ain't, the leagues most lovable and pathetic team. But if you want them to win, dump Meacum and trade Bree's.

/until then get the bags ready and learn to love 7-9

Anonymous said...

@10:38 doesn't want another SB, just the ability to say the Saints one won once upon a time.

Anonymous said...

How did Spiller turn out?

Anonymous said...

They lost 7 defensive backs for the year to injury. No coach can overcome that. Bad luck. Most will be back. Draft an OG and sign a good MLB and 2017 should be very positive.

Anonymous said...

At 11:17 and all 7 defensive backs sucked anyway. They all really suck bad. We have the highest paid safety tandem in the league and they suck.

Craig Robinson at MLB has been a pleasant surprise as one of the leading tacklers in the NFL and an absolute steal at or near the veteran minimum. Use damn near every pick on defensive backs, although we may have a good shot at the 2nd or 3rd best edge rusher in the draft at #11.

Anonymous said...

For only 4.5 million per year, they can still finish a couple of games under .500 with Mullen or Freeze.

Anonymous said...

How did Brandon Browner work out?

Anonymous said...

Who cares about Payton, I watch Dak and the Cowboys

Anonymous said...

Stanley Jean-Baptiste? He was supposed to be the next f'ing Richard Sherman. How'd that heralded draft pick work out?

Anonymous said...

It makes no difference who the coach is for the Saints. The ownership doesn't think it is viable to pay for top talent. They got rid of Bree's top receiver, Graham, and didn't feel the need to inform him. They have lost many players. You can't win without talent and it's no good to pay a top QB if you don't surround him with them. The coach now is meaningless

Messick said...

The used car salesman owner and his child-bride gotta go.

But that won't happen.

Anonymous said...

Browner and Baptiste were not even on the roster this year. Geez, at least know who is on the team if you bash it. Lewis was great before hip injury. Breaux was great last year and then broke his leg the first game this year. . Williams, Sean and Webb were showing a lot of promise. Next year Vaccaro will be in the last year of his rookie deal so expect big things out of him and Bell also next year. Saints need a pass rush and a OG and a special teams coach and they are set next year. DB will be deep.

Do you realize with the make-shift defensive backfield they had this year that they gave up only half of the passing touchdowns they did last year? 2017 or bust.

Anonymous said...

Ownership won't pay? They have been in the salary cap box for the last three years. They over pay not under pay. Finally they have cap space for next year. Looking for a big year next year.

PittPanther said...

Cleveland is crazy if he thinks management can just ask Payton what he wants to do, and expect a truthful answer. What sitting coach would tell his management anything except "I want to be here for the long haul?"

Anonymous said...

Cleveland knows nothing. Deuce today me everybody is staying and everybody involved expects a championship next year. He was stoked!

Anonymous said...

With SP in 2017 we will be in playoffs maybe 10-6.....losses will be to Pats, @Packers, @Falcons (1/1), @Panthers (1/1),@ Bucs (1/1), @Vikings. We should be able to win with the 3rd place schedule.

Without SP we would be lucky to win 6.

Anonymous said...

Without SP we would be lucky to win 6.

Thanks for confirming that the roster sucks.

Anonymous said...

Mullens heading to LA.

Anonymous said...

Only a Falcons fan or a total moron would suggest getting rid of Brees. He's one of the greatest of all time.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.