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Sean Payton to use a ‘scrambler’ to keep Saints’ locker room leak free

NFL head coaches

Locker room privacy has become a paramount issue in the NFL, especially recently after Steelers’ wideout Antonio Brown posted a Facebook live video of the Pittsburgh locker room that featured some locker-room only talk from head coach Mike Tomlin. It was a breach of privacy that Tomlin didn’t take lightly, and other NFL coaches are obviously thinking of ways to prevent that kind of leak in the future.

Saints’ head coach Sean Payton is a pragmatic man. He could talk to his players about privacy or simply start handing out fines, but instead, he’s going with the sure-bet approach. He’s planning on adding a “simple scrambler” to the New Orleans’ pregame locker room next season, with the hopes of completely keeping players off social media.

He explained his idea to Tiki and Tierney on CBS Radio. Mike Triplett of ESPN.com relayed the quotes.

“It’s not a violation of your freedom of nothing,” said Payton, who said he still wants players to be able to listen to music, etc. When asked if that will be a Saints rule or a league-wide thing, Payton cracked, “It’s gonna be a Sean Payton thing.”

Payton also told Tiki and Tierney that the type of privacy breach the Steelers experienced is much easier to deal with “if it’s a third-string tight end,” rather than the star player on the team. He still said he’d be red-hot mad either way if that was to happen in his locker room, and he also believes it’s a systemic problem in the culture right now, not just an NFL thing.

“Look, corporate America is dealing with this same issue. In the work world, employees at their desk, how much time are they spending on social media? Close to 35, 40 percent of the time?”

Focus is one of the hallmark words NFL coaches look for before games. Payton is apparently willing to go above and beyond to make sure that his players remain focused, and that his messages to the team remain private.

Now the only question that remains is this: Where’s he going to hide the scrambler?

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