Colts had interest in Sean Payton before extending Chuck Pagano

A day after the New Orleans Saints’ dismal season ended on a high note by beating the Atlanta Falcons, head coach Sean Payton’s future with the team is still unknown, as rumors continue to swirl.

Sean Payton has gone from a Super Bowl winning coach to a 7-9 coach and while all the blame can not be placed on Payton – much of it does fall on the team’s coach and leader.

Watch as Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole discusses possible landing spots in the video above. “(Reporters) would only know when you are ready to know”.

“I know you asked Drew, and he’s probably closer to the answer than I am”, Jordan said. This is not support for Payton and Brees leaving, but rather an observation based on past reactions and the use of specific words or phrases to divert attention without actually being dishonest.

That is exactly what Sean Payton did in New Orleans and that experience, along with his no-nonsense style and knack for coaching up quarterbacks, is what the Browns sorely need.

The two seem to work together seamlessly during games, and they have brought New Orleans unprecedented success. Though it was never listed on the itinerary distributed to the media, Payton was expected to conduct his final news conference of the year after meeting with his players. The team also has Drew Brees under contract for one more season, but dealing Payton and possibly Brees could help the long-term look of the franchise. He added that the Saints might decide to let Payton go if they can get the right kind of compensation.

The potential price placed by the Saints for Payton’s services is a second-round pick, according to NFL Media. We don’t doubt that a coach who is rumored to want to move on is monitoring the best opening in football.

But the good news is, the time has nearly come for everyone to find out. This and more explains why every team with a coaching vacancy is drooling over trading for him.

It’s unlikely he will ever be more marketable as essentially a free agent head coach than he is now. For letting Gruden out of his contract, Oakland received two first-round picks and two second-round picks as part of the package.

If the Colts talked to Payton’s representatives without the Saints’ permission, that would be a violation of the league’s tampering rules.

In 2000, the Patriots gave the New York Jets a first round pick (2000), a fourth-round choice (2001), and seventh round selection (2002) for Bill Belichick. Marty Schottenheimer was worth two third-rounders when he left Kansas City for Washington in 2001, and Mike Holmgren was worth a second-round pick when he was traded from the Packers to the Seahawks in 1999. Politicians say they have “no plans” to run for office or leave office, but are only saying at that specific moment no definitive decision has been made.