So was this what Sean Payton was doing during his yearlong suspension from the NFL in 2012?
Payton is trying his hand at being a caddy this week as he will work for Ryan Palmer at the Greenbriar Classic, which began Thursday at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., CBSSports.com is reporting.
During a PGA Tour news conference reported by CBSSports.com, Payton said he was vacationing at the Greenbriar when the opportunity arose.
"This time of year for us in the NFL is very quiet," Payton said on Wednesday. "So what started as a plan of vacationing here at the Greenbrier for a week, after two days I've quickly realized, this isn't a vacation. It worked out and, James is someone -- James Edmondson, Ryan's caddie, is someone I'm good friends with as well, and we were just talking at dinner one night and it ended up working out. So the last two days have been good, but I take the opportunity very seriously in that this is how he makes a living."
Payton added that he is friends with Palmer, who attends one or two Saints games per seasons. The two also often see each other in New Orleans at the Zurich Classic.
Payton returned to the Saints in the spring after serving a one-year suspension in connection with the team's "Bountygate" scandal.
He told a pool of PGA reporters that he doesn't play too many round of golf per year.
"I'm not very good," Payton said. "I really enjoy playing and enjoy practicing, maybe the range just as much as playing just as a release that it provides. We might play one or two rounds a year separate from any type of pro-am back in Dallas where he lives. But as a hobby, we don't have many hobbies, at least I don't have many, but that's something that's somewhat relaxing."
Payton said his goal this week was to make people forget he's Sean Payton.
"Just to be invisible as a caddie and do your job and be supportive, those are the things that I look at as being important for me this week," Payton said.
A reporter asked Payton when he'd allow Palmer to serve as his defensive coordinator with the Saints.
"Well, that's if he's allowing me to club his round (this week)," Payton said. "He can carry the headset cord."
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