The nearly happened three short years ago. At least according to ProFootballTalks Mike Florio. In an except from the NBC Sports Sunday night contributors new book , Florio after the 2019 playoffs.The year was 2019. The
Sergio Romo Jersey month, January. The Cowboys had won 10 of 16 games, along with a wild-card contest against the Seahawks. They lost to the Rams in the divisional round, 30-22. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones contemplated an upgrade from coach Jason Garrett to Sean Payton. Jones wanted to pull
Jesus Sucre Jersey the trigger. Payton did, too.Things unfolded quickly. The Saints had played in the NFC Championship, losing to the Rams on January 20. That week, Jones quietly made his move.Scroll to ContinueIt was a delicate situation, for various reasons. First, the Cowboys had a coach. Jones wouldnt have fired Garrett unle s he knew he could have gotten Payton. Second, league rules (specifically, the Rooney Rule) require a diverse and inclusive search. Third, Jones had to ultimately know that, after going through the
Matt Andriese Jersey motions of a search, hed be able to get Payton.So a deal was worked out, behind the scenes. The Saints would have allowed the Cowboys to hire Payton. The Cowboys would have compensated the Saints for the rights to Paytons contract. And Payton would have signed a new contract with the Cowboys.So what got in the way? Saints owner
Michael Perez Jersey Gayle Benson decided against letting Payton go when Anthony Davis of the NBAs New Orleans Pelicans demanded a trade. Benson, also owner of the Pels, wasnt about to lose two Louisiana sports heroes at the same time.That ended
Jake Smolinski Jersey it, just like that. The Saints were no longer interested in e sentially trading Payton to the Cowboys. In September, Payton signed a new contract. That deal has three years left on it.Payton is rumored to go the and the Cowboys currently have coach Mike McCarthy. But they had Garrett then, so perhaps Jones makes another run at the former Cowboys a sistant and Super Bowl winner.
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