Continuing a narrative that has been ongoing for quite some time now, the New Orleans Saints are expected to let head coach Sean Payton test the waters for other potential job offers.
Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis are expected to meet up on Monday following the team’s final game of the season on Sunday to discuss the future, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.
Since midway through the season it’s been reported that the Saints would be willing to let Payton out of his contract if he did decide not to stay in New Orleans.
This is still the expectation now, and at this point the biggest hindrance to such an outcome is simply compensation.
“Payton still has two years remaining on his contract, so the Saints and any interested teams would have to agree on the level of reimbursement if Payton leaves,” Triplett writes.
Payton has been linked to seemingly every job opening on the market right now. Most notably, it’s been reported that he’s going to be hotly pursued by Jim Irsay of the Indianapolis Colts and potentially by the New York Giants. Many have also speculated he could be lured to San Francisco, where it’s rumored Jim Tomsula is on his way out.