New Orleans Saints

Despite being under contract for three more seasons, Sean Payton's status as head coach of the New Orleans Saints is reportedly uncertain.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Payton has not yet committed to returning to the Saints in 2022.

Per Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Fox Sports has targeted Payton as a potential replacement for Troy Aikman as the television analyst for games. 

Aikman told Sports Illustrated's Jimmy Traina in December he's not sure if he is going to go to Amazon when the streaming site gets the Thursday night football package starting next season. 

"Maybe," Aikman said. "I’m not sure where all that might lead or how things end up."

Payton signed a five-year extension with the Saints in 2019 that CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora noted at the time was "one of the largest among coaches of North American professional sports" with an average salary of $13 million.

The deal tied Payton to New Orleans through the 2024 season. He is already the second-longest tenured head coach in the NFL, having just completed his 15th year with the Saints. (Bill Belichick has been with the New England Patriots for 22 seasons.)

There has been speculation in the past about opposing teams having an interest in trading for Payton. La Canfora reported in 2017 the Saints and Indianapolis Colts had "back-channel communications" about a deal, but those talks broke down.

Rapoport noted if Payton isn't with the Saints, it would be "highly unlikely" he coaches another team in 2022.

"Rather, this would be a mini-retirement to recharge for a year after a season several people close to him described as incredibly challenging and difficult," Rapoport wrote.

Payton is, by far, the most successful head coach in Saints history. The 58-year-old is the franchise's all-time leader in games coached (241), wins (152) and winning percentage (63.1). 

The Saints have won seven division titles in 15 seasons under Payton after capturing two division titles from 1967-2005. They defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV in the 2009 season.   

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is reportedly scheduled to interview with the Chicago Bears next week about their head coaching vacancy.

WWL-TV's Nick Underhill reported the news about Allen, who previously served as the Oakland Raiders head coach from 2012 through early in the 2014 season.

Allen didn't find much success with the Raiders, going 8-28 across two-plus years, but he's guided the Saints defense to steady improvement throughout his seven-year tenure.

New Orleans finished top-seven in total defense each of the past two years after ranking 31st in 2015, his first season in charge. In 2020, the team ranked fourth in yards allowed, fifth in points allowed and third in takeaways.

In December, Allen filled in as the Saints' interim head coach while Sean Payton was in the NFL's COVID-19 protocols for a Week 15 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fittingly, it was the team's defense that stepped up in a 9-0 shutout win over Tom Brady and the high-powered Bucs.

Afterward, the 49-year-old former Texas A&M safety told reporters he enjoyed the chance to lead a coaching staff again, even on a short-term basis:

Look, I relish that opportunity. Certainly, I really appreciate everything that Sean Payton has meant to me and my coaching career. So, for him to ask me to step in for him in this circumstance I appreciate the fact that he had the faith and the trust in me to lead this team. I really appreciate all the players and the assistant coaches and the way that they just hung together and fought and scratched and clawed for each other so that we could come away with this win. I think any time you win in this league I think it's a great feeling, and certainly in these circumstances, it feels good to win.

The Bears have cast a wide net in their search to replace Matt Nagy, who was fired after the team posted a 6-11 record in 2021.

Chicago has more potential than that lackluster mark would suggest, though. It ranked sixth in total defense this past season, and rookie quarterback Justin Fields, the 11th overall pick in the 2021 draft, provided hope of a brighter future on offense.

Fields' baseline numbers don't jump off the page—nine total touchdowns (seven passing and two rushing) and 15 turnovers (10 interceptions and five lost fumbles—but he showcased impressive dual-threat playmaking ability throughout the year.

The Ohio State product posted a 103-yard rushing performance against the San Francisco 49ers, who remain active in the playoffs, in Week 8. His best outing as a passer came in his final start of the campaign against the Minnesota Vikings when he completed 26 of his 39 throws (66.7 percent) for 285 yards with one touchdown and no picks.

If the Bears front office, which is also looking for a new leader after the firing of general manager Ryan Pace, can add some more talent around Fields during the offseason, the 22-year-old could make a significant leap in 2022.

Allen has no shortage of competition for the head coaching job with at least 10 other interviews already completed or scheduled in the coming days, per Alex Shapiro of NBC Chicago.

All told, the Bears' leadership faces a lot of pressure to get the GM and coaching hires right as frustration mounts within the fanbase amid an 11-year stretch without a playoff win.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton might be willing to entertain a major career change.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler polled NFL executives and coaches to predict what may happen around the league in 2022. He cited "several well-informed people" who brought up the idea of Payton becoming a television analyst.

"Not sure I see Payton walking away from coaching—he loves it too much—but there's definitely some buzz there that maybe he's being courted on that side," one coordinator told Fowler. "Maybe he goes and does that and returns one day to coach the Cowboys or something."

Payton just wrapped up his 15th season with the New Orleans Saints, who finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The 58-year-old isn't on shaky ground in the Big Easy, and he could probably write his own ticket if he decided he preferred to coach elsewhere.

Because of that, him transferring to the broadcast booth would be a bit of a shock.

But Fowler noted how the NFL's media partners are sparing no expense in order to lure big names as part of their coverage.

The New York Post's Andrew Marchand reported in February 2020 that Tony Romo signed an extension with CBS that will pay him $17 million annually. Jon Gruden pulled down around $6.5 million a year from his Monday Night Football duties.

Marchand reported Jan. 11 that Amazon was looking to make a big splash now that it has the rights to Thursday Night Football starting next year. According to the report, Al Michaels has spoken with Amazon about handling play-by-play duties, while Troy Aikman, Drew Brees and Cris Collinsworth were linked for a color role.

The timing couldn't be much better to cash out for those working in TV or aspiring broadcasters.

Payton signed a five-year, $45 million extension with the Saints in 2019. He might be able to match that number as an announcer, and even if he didn't, he could likely get a comparable figure while doing far less work around the year.

If he left coaching within the next few years, then Payton might still have an opportunity to return to the profession at some point down the road if he got the itch to be back on an NFL sideline.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill will undergo surgery on his foot after suffering a Lisfranc injury during Sunday's win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Saints head coach Sean Payton provided the update Monday but had no update on when the signal-caller will be able to return to full strength:

The 31-year-old Hill completed 58.2 percent of his throws for 978 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions in 12 games, including five starts at QB. He added 374 rushing yards and five scores in 2021.

The Saints (9-8) played three different starting quarterbacks this season. Jameis Winston started the first seven games, but he suffered a season-ending torn ACL in a 36-27 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 31.

The 5-2 Saints then fell to 5-6 as Trevor Siemian got the nod in the next four games. Siemian was thrust into a tough spot with the short-handed Saints missing many key players on offense, and the team predictably struggled.

New Orleans turned to Hill in hopes of providing a spark for the slumping Saints in a Thursday Night Football matchup versus the Dallas Cowboys.

He had 101 rushing yards, 264 passing yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw four interceptions (including a pick-six) in a 27-17 loss.

Hill had already been dealing with a partially torn plantar fascia, and he played through it during the Cowboys loss. If that wasn't enough to deal with, Hill also suffered a fluke mallet finger injury when his finger hit a Dallas Cowboy helmet on a follow-through on a throw. That ailment will require surgery.

Meanwhile, the Saints will have some key decisions to make about the future of their QB position in the offseason.

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday that the NFL refused to postpone Monday's game against the Miami Dolphins despite the Saints having 18 active-roster players on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Appearing on WWL Radio in New Orleans (h/t ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith), Loomis suggested that the NFL took a hardline stance against postponement well before the game was played:

"I don't know what the reasoning is in New York. Those decisions are made at the league level. But we were told pretty early on that the game wasn’t going to be postponed and just had to deal with it. That was their solution: Play the game no matter what. We don't have to like it, but we have to live with it."

With the New Orleans roster decimated by COVID-19 absences, the Saints were thoroughly dominated by the Dolphins in a 20-3 loss.

Some of the most notable Saints players absent for Monday's game because of COVID-19 protocols were quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian, offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, safety Malcolm Jenkins, linebackers Demario Davis and Kwon Alexander, and tight ends Adam Trautman and Juwan Johnson.

Starting offensive tackle Terron Armstead also missed the game with a knee injury.

The quarterback position is where New Orleans was hurt most, as not having Hill or Siemian available meant head coach Sean Payton had to turn to rookie fourth-round pick Ian Book under center.

Book was under siege all night against an aggressive Dolphins defense, going 12-of-20 for 135 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, including a pick six. Book was also sacked eight times.

The Saints were undoubtedly at a competitive disadvantage, and Loomis intimated that it hurt the integrity of the game, saying:

"If we had seven or eight or 10 COVID positives, we can handle that. When you have 18 active players and four of your practice squad players test positive for COVID, it's just too much to overcome, frankly. It wasn't fair to the players. It wasn't fair to our coaching staff, and certainly not the fans."

To make matters worse, the game was hugely important for both teams, as they both entered with a 7-7 record and were in the thick of their respective playoff races.

By virtue of Miami's win, which was its seventh in a row, it now owns the final wild-card spot in the AFC at 8-7 and controls its own destiny with regard to a playoff berth.

Meanwhile, the 7-8 Saints are one game behind the Philadelphia Eagles for the final wild-card position in the NFC and will need some help in order to reach the postseason.

New Orleans activated 11 players from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, and with a far more representative roster in place, it will look to keep its playoff hopes alive with a win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.  

Ian Book's time as the New Orleans Saints appears to be coming to an end.

NOLA.com's Amie Just reported the NFC South team activated quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian from the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Saints also activated linebacker Demario Davis along with nine others, but they placed safety Marcus Williams on the list.

The return of Hill and Siemian is surely welcome news for New Orleans after rookie QB Ian Book struggled during the team's loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday.

Book completed 12 of 20 passes for 135 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. He also took eight sacks and was faced with constant pressure throughout the game.

The quarterback position has been a problem for the Saints since Jameis Winston suffered a season-ending injury during an October win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team was 5-2 after that victory but is just 7-8 and out of the playoff picture in the current standings.

Siemian was given the nod in the immediate aftermath of Winston's injury but went 0-4 as a starter while completing 57.2 percent of his passes for 1,083 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.

Hill then took over and was 2-1 as a starter before going on the COVID-19/Reserve list, which kept New Orleans in the playoff picture in the NFC.

He brings more to the table as a playmaker than Siemian because of his ability to run, with 311 yards and five scores on the ground. However, he has struggled as a passer and completed 55.7 percent of his passes for 649 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions.

New Orleans finishes with games against the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. 

It will likely need to win both to reach the playoffs considering it is tied with the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons at one game behind the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles in the crowded NFC wild-card race.           

The Miami Dolphins earned their seventh straight win with a 20-3 road victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. Tua Tagovailoa threw for 198 yards, a touchdown and an interception as Miami improved to 8-7.

With the win, the Dolphins kept their playoff hopes alive and stayed in the hunt for an AFC wild-card spot. It's the team's first win streak of seven games since 1985. Miami is now the first team in NFL history to have a seven-game losing streak and a seven-game winning streak in the same season.

Rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who entered the game with 86 receptions, had 10 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. He now trails Anquan Boldin's rookie record of 101 catches by five with two games left in the season.

The Saints fell to 7-8 with the loss. Star running back Alvin Kamara totaled 59 scrimmage yards on 15 touches. Rookie quarterback Ian Book threw for 135 yards and two interceptions in his first career start.

New Orleans was without several key players due to a COVID-19 outbreak, including quarterback Taysom Hill, backup Trevor Siemian, linebacker and defensive captain Demario Davis and veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins.

Notable Stats

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA: 19-of-26 for 198 YDS, TD, INT

Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA: 10 REC for 92 YDS, TD

Ian Book, QB, NO: 12-of-20 for 135 YDS, 2 INT

Alvin Kamara, RB, NO: 13 CAR for 52 YDS; 2 REC for 7 YDS

Miami's Dominant Defense Makes Up for Middling Offense

If one thing was clear at the start of the game, it was that the Dolphins defense was pumped to face a quarterback with no experience. Miami opened the game with a pick-six on the Saints' first drive and never looked back.

The defensive performance was needed because of a pedestrian performance by Miami's offense. Tagovailoa and Co. failed to fully take advantage of a New Orleans team missing some of its best players.

The Dolphins offense accounted for only 13 points with just one touchdown drive. Tagovailoa threw a puzzling interception that fell right into the hands of Saints defensive back Marshon Lattimore.

But the Dolphins defense more than made up for the offense's mistakes. Miami did a great job of getting the Saints off the field, forcing the Saints to go 0-for-12 on third down, the team's first time failing to convert on third down under head coach Sean Payton. Brandon Jones sealed the game with an interception.

Miami finished with eight sacks, its third time in the last four games with at least five sacks. It's the fifth time during this win streak that the Dolphins have held an opponent to 10 points or less.

Miami's defense is blossoming into one of the most stout units in the NFL. If the Dolphins can continue to shut down opposing offenses, it wouldn't be a surprise to see their winning streak continue and culminate in a playoff berth.

Saints Stumble with Short-handed Squad

New Orleans knew Monday's game would be tough with such a depleted roster. The Saints showed a ton of fight throughout the game, especially on defense. But missing so many key pieces was too much to overcome.

New faces on the field have been an unfortunate theme throughout the season for the Saints. 

Cameron Jordan was one of the few bright spots for New Orleans. After earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, he remained a model of consistency and followed up with two sacks on Monday.

The Saints entered the game with the fifth-ranked rush defense in the league, with an average of 96.6 yards allowed on the ground. On Monday, they held Miami to 86 yards on the ground.

But the New Orleans offense couldn't get anything going, understandably so, with a rookie quarterback making his first career start. Book was under siege throughout the night as Miami overwhelmed him with constant pressure.

New Orleans has to hope to return to full strength for the final two games of the season. The Saints are fighting for a playoff spot in the NFC, but Monday's loss was a major setback.

What's Next?

The Dolphins will go for their eighth straight win on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. The Saints will look to bounce back that same day in a division matchup vs. the Carolina Panthers.

As the New Orleans Saints prepare for Monday's game with Ian Book potentially starting at quarterback, the organization reportedly made overtures to two recently retired legends as potential options. 

Per Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Saints officials reached out to Drew Brees and Philip Rivers about signing an emergency contract for their game against the Miami Dolphins. 

The Saints announced on Thursday that nine players, including Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill, have been placed on the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list.  

ESPN's Mike Triplett reported on Friday that Blake Bortles signed with New Orleans to give the team a backup option. 

Duncan did note that the team's overtures to Brees and Rivers "should not be seen as an indictment" of Book, but rather because "he has never taken a snap in an official NFL game, and Miami features one of the most aggressive, high-pressure defenses in the league."

Despite announcing his retirement from the NFL in January, Rivers told Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times in August that he was "going to stay ready" in case an opportunity to play came up. 

"I want to make sure I’m very clear: I’m not predicting I will play in December, or January, for that matter," Rivers said. "One, you’ve got to have somebody who wants you, and two, it’s got to be right. But I have not completely ruled that out."

Brees previously shot down the idea of returning to the Saints after Jameis Winston tore his ACL in Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

"I'll be there Saturday to call the Notre Dame-Navy game, and I'll be here Sunday," Brees told Mike Tirico during NBC's coverage of the Dallas Cowboys-Minnesota Vikings game on Oct. 31 (h/t Patrick Magee of NOLA.com).

Book has yet to appear in a game for the Saints this season. He was a fourth-round draft pick (No. 133 overall) out of Notre Dame in the 2021 NFL draft. 

New Orleans is entering Week 16 with a 7-7 record. It is tied with the Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles for the final playoff spot in the NFC, but both teams hold the tiebreaker over New Orleans.     

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton reportedly exited the NFL's COVID-19 protocols and returned to the team facility Friday morning.

Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune reported Payton, who missed Sunday's 9-0 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was "cleared to resume head coaching duties" ahead of Monday night's Week 16 game against the Miami Dolphins.

Payton, who's fully vaccinated, entered COVID protocols last Friday following a positive test result.

While NFL rules call for a baseline 10-day absence, a vaccinated individual can return sooner than that if he has two negative tests over a 24-hour period. Payton's return after seven days means he met those guidelines.

It's the second time Payton tested positive for COVID-19. He became one of the first high-profile American sports figures to enter quarantine in March 2020 during the virus' first wave in the United States.

"You fatigue real easy," he told Jarrett Bell of USA Today about his symptoms the first time. "I'd be up moving around, doing something, then you'd want to lay down again. That lasted three or four days. By the time I got the test results back I had begun feeling better. I had my appetite back."

Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen served as the interim head coach in the win over the Bucs, so it was fitting that New Orleans became the first team to shut out a Tom Brady-led offense in 15 years.

Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael confirmed Payton remained involved in the game-planning process despite being away from the facility.

"It's more communication with phone calls," Carmichael said Thursday. "He has an opportunity to watch film at home and get with us [coaches] to discuss plays or certain ideas. So, obviously not being here is a little bit different, but I think he's doing his own work as well."

Getting Payton back will be as a welcome sight for the Saints as they try to secure a playoff berth during the final weeks of the regular season.

The Saints are currently ninth in the NFC standings with a 7-7 record. They're tied with the Minnesota Vikings, who hold the seventh and final playoff position in the conference, and the Philadelphia Eagles, but they sit behind those teams based on tiebreakers.

New Orleans likely needs to win at least two of its final three games, and potentially all three—matchups with the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons follow Monday's meeting with Miami—to qualify for the postseason.