A big key here for Payton is where the ownership situation is heading. Payton has a out clause in his deal should owner Tom Benson cease to own the Saints. This considered, it should stand to reason that Payton is a Benson guy, and he respects the man, and frankly, he should. Benson and Payton have been very good for each other. Benson stood firmly behind Payton in the wake of the coach's 2012 suspension, even making him the highest paid coach in the NFL after the punishment had been served. Benson has also appeared to stay out of day-to-day operations, allowing Payton to have autonomy over the team without incessant meddling (see Dallas).
Benson has benefitted from Payton just as much. In the months before Payton's hiring, Benson was persona non grata in New Orleans. He had flirted with moving the team to San Antonio in the aftermath of the storm, and it seemed like he would take that moment of great pain in New Orleans to inflict a crushing blow. Instead, Benson hired Payton, which proved to be a masterstroke of genius, and Payton helped return some goodwill Benson's way. He delivered to Benson the impossible, a Lombardi trophy, and now even more improbably, a statue of Benson stands in front of the Superdome. Benson took a chance on Payton, but it would stand to reason that deep down Benson is forever grateful to Payton for his part in changing the public perception of the embattled owner.
It would be beyond surprising to see Benson in any hurry to jettison one of his greatest assets. The key is how much longer will Benson be around to covet his defiant coach.
