The Shadow Of Sean Payton Looms Over Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy has been kept on to coach the Dallas Cowboys this upcoming season, that much we know. But lurking in the shadows is one Sean Payton come 2023 off-season, and he is expected to be a viable candidate. Since he retired this off-season, this has been a hot story going around. This is so well known that NFL Honors host Keegan-Michael Key made light of the situation during the awards ceremony Thursday, saying that following Payton’s resignation from the Saints, “Sean will now return to his true passion: finding a way to take Mike McCarthy’s job.”
Sean Payton visited the set of PFT Live on Friday, and he was asked about the swirling rumors that he is a year away from becoming the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys or talk to McCarthy and tell him he doesn’t have to worry.
Full quote via PFT via NBCSports.com:
“I haven’t,” Payton said. “You know what, it’s a good idea because I felt like it took place for a while with Jason Garrett, a good friend of mine who I coached with at the Giants. Still a close friend to this day, and I consider Mike someone who’s a close friend. Mike’s done it long enough. We both entered the league as head coaches the same year in ’06. We’re of the same age and we’re of the same background. Look, our paths have been different. I’m his big fan and I think he’s one of those guys who’s a fantastic coach. I had this whole conversation with Saints’ ownership the week prior to the wildcard round and Mrs. Benson said, ‘Take a week, go on vacation to Mexico, and before you come back put that answer,’ because I knew then I wanted to step away. Sure enough, that first round game, Dallas loses. I’m like, ‘Ah, It would’ve been so much easier if I had the Tuesday before that.’”
The ending of his statement is very intriguing. It sounds like Sean Payton knew that upon his announcement of retiring speculation would begin about him coaching the Cowboys. One of our own has even pondered the idea as well. This will certainly be something to monitor throughout the next season.
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