ATLANTA — If the reeling Jets find themselves in the market for a new coach in 2013, Sean Payton might be available.
The status of the Saints’ suspended, Super Bowl-winning coach remained cloudy last night except for specific confirmation from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that he voided the extension through 2015 — signed by Payton two years ago — for violating league rules.
That word from Goodell, coming after an initial report yesterday morning from ESPN, would appear to mean Payton is free to sign with the team of his choice after this season unless he decides to re-up with the Saints.
But confusion lingered because of Payton’s year-long suspended status as part of the Bountygate scandal, which might “freeze” his current deal, and because Payton told Fox Sports yesterday he plans to stay with the Saints, who play host to the Eagles tonight.
The network also reported New Orleans owner Tom Benson is even more eager to keep Payton by making him the highest-paid coach in NFL history. Achieving that would likely mean a deal worth at least $8 million per year out of Benson’s pockets, on top of the $100 million extension he gave Drew Brees this summer.
Speaking before the Falcons’ 19-13 win over the Cowboys at the Georgia Dome last night, Goodell didn’t comment on whether Payton’s current contract is frozen by the suspension.
But Goodell made it clear the extension Payton signed two years ago was unacceptable to the commissioner and the league because it included a clause that Payton was free to leave if general manager Mickey Loomis — who also was suspended as part of the bounty scandal — were fired or left the team.
“I don’t know about the term ‘free agent,’ but the one contract that was sent into us, we told them what the conditions were,” Goodell said during the brief on-field media session. “Now it’s up to the team and Sean Payton. Until I’m submitted something, there’s nothing for me to rule on.”
The league contends Payton’s contract is frozen by the suspension, but it was uncertain to industry sources yesterday if Goodell will be in position to enforce that because the coaches aren’t unionized and there doesn’t appear to be any language in the NFL bylaws specifying that coaches’ contracts freeze under a suspension.
So if Payton wants to coach elsewhere next season and is prepared to fight for it, it looks like he could make it happen.
The Cowboys are being mentioned most, in part because of Jason Garrett’s continued struggles and the fact Payton coached with them previously and has a house in the Dallas area.
But there could be several other attractive landing spots, including the Jets if they continue to flail enough that owner Woody Johnson decides to part company with Rex Ryan.