First-year coach Payton named Coach of the Year

[Bleu Star]

Hey Bill... I guess this guy can coach an offense when given the breathing room to do so. I'm going to go throw up now.

01/06/2007 9:22 AM - Sean Payton might have had the toughest coaching job in football this season, making his selection Saturday as The Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year that much more impressive.

Sean Payton might have had the toughest coaching job in football this season, making his selection Saturday as The Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year that much more impressive.

Payton, in his first year as a head coach, didn't just lead the New Orleans Saints to a 10-6 record, the NFC South championship and a first-round playoff bye. He helped revitalize a battered city's spirit.

With New Orleans ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005, the Saints became nomads that year, winding up 3-13 under Jim Haslett. Payton, an assistant coach in Dallas, was hired to revive one of the NFL's historically unsuccessful franchises.

Payton and his team gave the city -- indeed, the entire Gulf Coast -- something it desperately needed: a reason to smile.

And hopes for the Saints' first Super Bowl appearance.

"It's just been the right mix of guys who believe in each other," said Payton, who ran away in the balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. "Players putting the team ahead of everything else. I think that's the biggest thing that we've been able to do to date. That's what's most important. That's what we were looking for in the offseason: character, toughness, those are things you win with."

Payton received 44 votes in a season when there were a half-dozen outstanding coaching performances. Eric Mangini of the New York Jets, another first-year head coach, got three votes, while San Diego's Marty Schottenheimer, the 2004 winner, received two. Jeff Fisher of Tennessee got one.

Payton became the third Saints coach to win the award, joining Haslett (2000) and Jim Mora (1987). Last year's winner was Chicago's Lovie Smith.

No coach ever was faced with rebuilding a roster while his community was recovering from such devastation. Football might seem trivial under such circumstances, but Payton and his players understood how uplifting their success could be to those struggling to put together their lives again.

"It was a new coach. He wanted to put his foot on the ground and establish that this was a new beginning," veteran wide receiver Joe Horn said. "In our profession, football, you don't start a new beginning by coming in and making it easy. It has to be hard.

"Fortunately for us we won football games. It worked out well."

So well that the Saints had their best regular season thanks to a potent offense and strong special teams.

Give Payton credit for those units, too. He signed free agent quarterback Drew Brees even though Brees was coming off delicate surgery on his throwing shoulder. Brees responded with a Pro Bowl season.

Payton lucked out when Reggie Bush was bypassed at the top of the draft by Houston, and Bush was a dynamic rookie as a runner, receiver and punt returner.

Even more dynamic was seventh-round pick Marques Colston, a receiver from Hofstra who had a questionable work ethic and concentration lapses in college. Under Payton's guidance, Colston became an elite rookie.

Payton wisely alternated running back Deuce McAllister, coming off a serious knee injury, with Bush, and McAllister finished with 1,057 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

"We have a great head coach in Sean Payton, and his system," Brees said. "I think we all believe in it, and I think it suits us all very well. I think we take a lot of pride in it."

Link

 

[Jimz31]

Yep. But it also helps that he's got some pretty good players on that team. The rookie WR, Colston, was an unexpected bonus for him.

 

[Bleu Star]

Yep. But it also helps that he's got some pretty good players on that team. The rookie WR, Colston, was an unexpected bonus for him.

Let's not forget Terrance Copper if we're going to mention WRs on his team.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Everything was in his favor to have a big year. This award is not surprising to me at all. He sure killed us.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

Well deserved award for him. I congratulate him. I think Payton was held back here more by the lack of a quality QB than by Parcells though. He never had a QB that could really run an offense like Brees is doing in NO. I pushed hard for us to go after Brees last year.. but I think Romo will be the answer now.

 

[AbeBeta]

Good for him. He did an outstanding job - the way the cards fell he was able to bring in some great players (Bush and Brees) and make good use of FA money and picks in other spots.

But let's all go to the archives and see who was calling him an idiot last year. Let's see who said "good riddance!"

 

[Bleu Star]

But let's all go to the archives and see who was calling him an idiot last year. Let's see who said "good riddance!"

heh. That would be fun.

 

[Murph80]

Alot of people on this board ripped him. Said he would never be a successful HC in this league.

 

[Jimz31]

Alot of people on this board ripped him. Said he would never be a successful HC in this league.

It's all in the assistants....look at BP....look at Belichek now.

 

[theogt]

Alot of people on this board ripped him. Said he would never be a successful HC in this league.

Then again, a lot of people on this board were hoping he'd be the HC this year instead of Parcells.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Had a lot of things fall in place for him, Dolphins passing on Brees, Texans passing on Bush, Colston becoming a superstar, team remained relatively healthy, etc. However considering the circumstances of Katrina I'd give him the nod slightly over Mangini (however you spell it) in New York.

 

[Sarge]

Then again, a lot of people on this board were hoping he'd be the HC this year instead of Parcells.

.....yyyyyyyyyep.

 

[dargonking999]

When you have Brees, Bush, Colston, Horn, Mclasister, ANd a OL,its amazing how many numbers you can put on the board.

With Bledsoe, there was no way, we were gonna open the offense like with the Saints.

Not to mention they had one hell of a push, from fans, for the katrina stuff.

 

[dbair1967]

Yep. But it also helps that he's got some pretty good players on that team. The rookie WR, Colston, was an unexpected bonus for him.

yeah, teams that end up with the 2nd pick overall in the draft and take castoffs from other teams left and right are clearly loaded with talent arnt they?



David

 

[dargonking999]

yeah, teams that end up with the 2nd pick overall in the draft and take castoffs from other teams left and right are clearly loaded with talent arnt they?



David

Yea, cause we all know Brees, and Bush, where talentless huh

 

[theogt]

Yea, cause we all know Brees, and Bush, where talentless huh

Payton really lucked out that Miami failed Brees on his physical. Miami was Brees's first choice. If Miami takes Bress they're in the playoffs this year and Saban is in the running for coach of the year. In that scenario the Saints are 6-10 and looking towards the draft right now.

 

[Munchis]

Payton is the reason Parcells had any success here to begin with. He worked wonders with Quincy Carter and Bledsoe had one of his better seasons last year in his offense.

Looks like we kept the wrong coach unfortunately.....congrats to Payton, Shanle, Fujita, Copper and Petitti. We miss you guys!

Munchis.....Out!!!

 

[cwbyfn1957]

I was one of those who said good riddance when he got the job. Let's not forget he was pretty much run out of New York. I didnt think much of him here, even though he was hampered by a mediocre QB's and O-Line.
I congratulate him on his accomplishments in New Orleans though. He had a tough job there and has been very successful. Luck has played a part of it, but it does with every team. You have to take advantage of it when you have it.

 

[Jimz31]

yeah, teams that end up with the 2nd pick overall in the draft and take castoffs from other teams left and right are clearly loaded with talent arnt they?



David

Oh...that's right....they have ZERO talent on that team.

 

[dargonking999]

Payton really lucked out that Miami failed Brees on his physical. Miami was Brees's first choice. If Miami takes Bress they're in the playoffs this year and Saban is in the running for coach of the year. In that scenario the Saints are 6-10 and looking towards the draft right now.

yep your right, i dont think Payton would have had a QB that could do what Brees did. Everyone is clamouring abot Brees, but he did this exact same thing last year, only differnce was he was in the AFC, where he had a truckoad of good QB's. ANd He was playing infront of Philip Rivers