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Posted September 16, 2006
Payton: 'I'm where I'm supposed to be'
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
When Packers General Manager Ted Thompson began his search to find a replacement for Mike Sherman in January, it was a given Sean Payton would be on his short list.
Payton had the perfect pedigree to become a head coach. He had spent two years with the Dallas Cowboys as the assistant head coach to Bill Parcells.
Former Parcells assistants have done well in the NFL. Bill Belichick has won three Super Bowls in New England, Tom Coughlin has done well in Jacksonville and with the New York Giants, and Romeo Crennel is trying to turn around the Cleveland Browns. Outside the NFL ranks, Charlie Weis, another former Parcells assistant, has turned around Notre Dame.
Payton had drawn interest as a head coaching candidate after his first season with the Cowboys. He was offered the Oakland Raiders' head coaching job, but turned it down. He knew there would be more suitors, and was confident enough in his abilities to wait for the right one.
When Payton got the call from Thompson in January, he said he thought he would have been a perfect choice to coach the Packers.
"I said this to Ted and a handful of people when I was there, I've always thought the uniqueness of the tradition there is pretty special," Payton said. "I grew up in Chicago, so I'm familiar with that rivalry and that division. Just having had a chance to see it all and see the tradition and visit with people about it, it's unique and special. It's unique to any other venue in our league, and the tradition is unique to most other organizations."
Thompson refused to get into specifics about why he hired McCarthy over Payton, but had nothing but good things to say about Payton.
"He's an outstanding coach. He's doing a great job in New Orleans," Thompson said. "We have a great coach here. The hiring process always requires a lot of tough decisions."
Payton said he had no bad feelings about not being hired by the Packers.
"I had a great visit there with Ted, and it was first class all the way," Payton said. "I've got a lot of respect for not only the organization, but all of the individuals involved in the process. It was a good process for me to go through."
When the Packers passed on Payton, he had to wait only a few days before another team came calling.
"I accepted the New Orleans job about a week later," Payton said. "It's been a great move for me. I'm very happy with the organization here."
Other than Oakland, which has made eight head coaching changes in the last 17 years, New Orleans had to seem like the second least-desirable of the 10 head coaching openings. Not only had the Saints finished with a 3-13 record, the future of the franchise was in serious doubt as the city recovered from Hurricane Katrina. The Saints didn't play a game in New Orleans last season, splitting their home games between San Antonio, Texas, Baton Rouge, La., and even East Rutherford, N.J.
"I feel like we're starting new here," Payton said. "That was one of the things that scared me about this job, but it was also something that attracted me to it."
One of the first things Payton was able to do as Saints coach was convince quarterback Drew Brees to come to New Orleans.
"He was the only one who looked me in the eye and said, 'You know what? We know you're the guy who is going to lead this team, and we have 100 percent confidence in you,'" Brees said. "That really got my attention."
By adding Brees and running back Reggie Bush with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, Payton said he knows the Saints are a much better team than they were a year ago.
"It's an exciting time to be here," Payton said. "We're thrilled to win our first game, and we just want to build from there."
As the Saints try to build on a strong showing in Week 1, the Packers are trying to rebound from a devastating loss. Payton said he was disappointed when he wasn't hired by the Packers, but said he thinks everyone may be better off.
"I know Mike well enough that I know he's going to do a great job there," Payton said. "Our careers as coordinators have been somewhat similar, and I know he's a heck of a football coach. I know I'm where I'm supposed to be and I'm sure Mike is where he's supposed to be."
http://greenbaypressgazette.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060916/PKR01/609160318/1989
Payton: 'I'm where I'm supposed to be'
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
When Packers General Manager Ted Thompson began his search to find a replacement for Mike Sherman in January, it was a given Sean Payton would be on his short list.
Payton had the perfect pedigree to become a head coach. He had spent two years with the Dallas Cowboys as the assistant head coach to Bill Parcells.
Former Parcells assistants have done well in the NFL. Bill Belichick has won three Super Bowls in New England, Tom Coughlin has done well in Jacksonville and with the New York Giants, and Romeo Crennel is trying to turn around the Cleveland Browns. Outside the NFL ranks, Charlie Weis, another former Parcells assistant, has turned around Notre Dame.
Payton had drawn interest as a head coaching candidate after his first season with the Cowboys. He was offered the Oakland Raiders' head coaching job, but turned it down. He knew there would be more suitors, and was confident enough in his abilities to wait for the right one.
When Payton got the call from Thompson in January, he said he thought he would have been a perfect choice to coach the Packers.
"I said this to Ted and a handful of people when I was there, I've always thought the uniqueness of the tradition there is pretty special," Payton said. "I grew up in Chicago, so I'm familiar with that rivalry and that division. Just having had a chance to see it all and see the tradition and visit with people about it, it's unique and special. It's unique to any other venue in our league, and the tradition is unique to most other organizations."
Thompson refused to get into specifics about why he hired McCarthy over Payton, but had nothing but good things to say about Payton.
"He's an outstanding coach. He's doing a great job in New Orleans," Thompson said. "We have a great coach here. The hiring process always requires a lot of tough decisions."
Payton said he had no bad feelings about not being hired by the Packers.
"I had a great visit there with Ted, and it was first class all the way," Payton said. "I've got a lot of respect for not only the organization, but all of the individuals involved in the process. It was a good process for me to go through."
When the Packers passed on Payton, he had to wait only a few days before another team came calling.
"I accepted the New Orleans job about a week later," Payton said. "It's been a great move for me. I'm very happy with the organization here."
Other than Oakland, which has made eight head coaching changes in the last 17 years, New Orleans had to seem like the second least-desirable of the 10 head coaching openings. Not only had the Saints finished with a 3-13 record, the future of the franchise was in serious doubt as the city recovered from Hurricane Katrina. The Saints didn't play a game in New Orleans last season, splitting their home games between San Antonio, Texas, Baton Rouge, La., and even East Rutherford, N.J.
"I feel like we're starting new here," Payton said. "That was one of the things that scared me about this job, but it was also something that attracted me to it."
One of the first things Payton was able to do as Saints coach was convince quarterback Drew Brees to come to New Orleans.
"He was the only one who looked me in the eye and said, 'You know what? We know you're the guy who is going to lead this team, and we have 100 percent confidence in you,'" Brees said. "That really got my attention."
By adding Brees and running back Reggie Bush with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, Payton said he knows the Saints are a much better team than they were a year ago.
"It's an exciting time to be here," Payton said. "We're thrilled to win our first game, and we just want to build from there."
As the Saints try to build on a strong showing in Week 1, the Packers are trying to rebound from a devastating loss. Payton said he was disappointed when he wasn't hired by the Packers, but said he thinks everyone may be better off.
"I know Mike well enough that I know he's going to do a great job there," Payton said. "Our careers as coordinators have been somewhat similar, and I know he's a heck of a football coach. I know I'm where I'm supposed to be and I'm sure Mike is where he's supposed to be."
http://greenbaypressgazette.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060916/PKR01/609160318/1989