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AROUND THE SHIELD — Sean Payton's time in the Big Easy has come to a conclusion, as first reported by the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's the ninth head coaching vacancy in the NFL this offseason.
The Saints confirmed the report in a news conference Tuesday afternoon in New Orleans, saying that the coach of the franchise for the past 16 years was stepping down but not necessarily stepping away (permanently) from the game of football.
"Honestly, as I sit here today, and this is OK, I don't know what's next," Payton said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference, acknowledging that he has had some interest — but no offers — in exploring a role in television and media. "I don't like the word 'retirement,' Mr. B (late Saints owner Tom Benson) didn't like it either, he always said 'retirement's overrated.'
"We get sold this image of retirement by these investment groups on TV and golf courses and, so, yeah, I still have a vision for doing things in football and, I'll be honest with ya, that might be coaching again at some point. I don't think it's this year, I think maybe in the future but that's not where my heart is right now. It's not at all."
Payton's time with the Saints was nothing short of a success, with a 151-89 regular-season record and 9-8 mark in the postseason that included a Super Bowl title and Associated Press Coach of the Year award in 2006. The 58-year-old coach will evaluate his next steps going forward. But for now, it's time for a break and a warm salutation as he salters off to a much-deserved vacation away from the daily NFL grind.
Which leads most to consider the plight of the organization he's led for the better part of the past two decades — specifically, its starting quarterback and enigmatic former BYU dual-threat star Taysom Hill.
It's no secret the biggest position in football — and arguably the most important — has been in flux in New Orleans since Drew Brees retired last year and slid behind the desk in NBC's Sunday Night Football studios. The Saints have rotated through a cast of characters in trying to find Brees' full-time replacement in the year since.
It started with Jameis Winston earning the job over Hill at the start of the year before a mid-season ACL injury sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign. The Saints didn't immediately go to Hill (in part due to injuries), but instead shifted to a plan where Trevor Siemian started at quarterback and Hill was used in his now-traditional array of Wildcat quarterback, running back, tight end and package-play exclusives.
New Orleans went 0-4 under that setup, prompting another change at the QB position — this time to Hill. The Pocatello, Idaho, native finished the season with a 4-1 record as a starter, completing 58% of his passes for 978 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions, and running for another 374 yards and five more scores.
It wasn't always ordinary, but it was at least effective — until Hill suffered a Lisfranc injury in the Saints' season finale, leading to an offseason of wondering and questioning as he reports to multiple surgeries to correct the ailment for the second time in his injury-riddled football career (he also suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury at BYU, an injury that led to Tanner Mangum's arrival in the program with a win over Nebraska on a Hail Mary).
With a new head coach and presumably new direction for the franchise, then, Hill's status with the Saints has become increasingly uncertain. His lone advantage may be that Winston and Siemian are both unrestricted free agents this year, but as a non-playoff team, New Orleans also hold the 18th pick in April's NFL draft — which many experts expect to be used on a franchise quarterback of the future.
Adding to Hill's quandary is his contract, worth a reported $40 million over the next four years that could rise as high as $90 million if he is named club's full-time starting quarterback at some point. With incentives, the deal could be worth as much as $94 million over the life of the contract, according to CBS Sports' Joel Corry, with $21.5 million in guarantees.
That contract also becomes guaranteed through the 2023 season in March, right as the Saints need to make a move on the future — both long-term, and this year.
The Saints are projected to be $74 million over the salary cap — by far the most in the NFL, according to Over the Cap — and face a potential exodus of expiring contracts that include Terron Armstead and former Utah safety Marcus Williams.
All of this to explain why Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine calls Hill's contract the worst contract in New Orleans, and one of the 32 worst in the NFL.
"All of this would make sense if Hill was a young quarterback who has shown signs that he can be a full-time passer," Ballentine wrote. "But he's 31 years old and is coming off a season in which he threw just four touchdowns to five interceptions.
"On March 19, the contract will become guaranteed through 2023, meaning the Saints are essentially locked in to be paying a 33-year-old quarterback who still feels like a project. That's a scary proposition given how much of his success has been dependent on his athleticism."
Hill has become a polarizing figure in New Orleans, but also a fan favorite among many Saints faithful because of the dynamism and extra dimension he offers with his unique skillset. But it's no secret that he's also been able to do what he's done over the past five seasons in the Big Easy because of his relationship with Payton.
With that relationship now expiring via Payton's departure, Hill could find himself on the way out of a rebuilding Saints franchise.
