The Colts are expected to let go of head coach Chuck Pagano Monday, despite piecing together an 8-8 season without star quarterback Andrew Luck for the majority of their games. Aside from failing to make the playoffs in a season with Super Bowl expectations, Pagano reportedly clashed with the front office, and GM Ryan Grigson in particular.
If they do sever ties from Pagano, there should be one target in mind – Sean Payton of the Saints. After back-to-back seasons without a postseason berth the Saints are reportedly listening to offers for Payton. New Orleans wants at least a second-round pick in exchange for their coach, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rappoport.
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A second-rounder seems steep for a coach coming off two seasons without the playoffs, and who is making $8 million a season, especially for the Colts who have many holes on their roster. They should go for it anyway, because Payton and Andrew Luck are a perfect match. Payton’s reputation as an offensive guru has been helped by Drew Brees, the future Hall of Fame quarterback who has been with Payton the whole way.
Whether or not Payton’s offensive wizardry can be replicated without Brees is up for debate, but in Indianapolis he’ll have another elite passer to work with. The biggest wrench in these plans could be the Giants, who may decide they want to make an offer for Payton as well.
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Tom Coughlin was let go on Monday, and the future of his staff – most notably offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo – is unclear. Payton has history with the Giants, though, as their offensive coordinator during the 2001 Super Bowl.
Both the Colts and Giants have top-flight quarterbacks for Payton to work with, so if the Saints play their cards right they may be able to incite a bidding war.
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