Photo: Wikipedia Commons.
The New Orleans Saints' headcoach Sean Payton may become a free-agent after this season. Even though Payton has been suspended for the entire 2012 season due to the Saints' bounty scandal, he will become the most desireable head coach on the market if he and the Saints break ties.
In a report by Sports Illustrated Peter King, a long-time Andy Reid fan, he notes that if Payton was available on the market, owner Jeff Lurie would make it a priority to hire him.
If Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie fires Andy Reid at the end of the season, Payton, who coached quarterbacks in Philly in 1997 and ’98, would be intriguing to him, and I believe Lurie would try hard to get him. It’s a Lurie kind of move, trying to head off Dallas at the pass and take the kind of jump with a playoff-ready team that would give them a chance to break out of their recent malaise.
Payton's contract extension with the Saints, which would have kept him in New Orleans through 2015, was voided by the NFL on Sunday due to his involvement with the bounty scandal.
So if Andy Reid and his Eagles can't get into the playoffs (they're 3-4 on the year so far) and if Sean Payton doesn't re-sign with the Saints, don't be surprised to see Jeff Lurie go out and try to get him.
Erik is a writer for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.
