Saints’ Head Coach and his family are apparently packing their bags and moving to Dallas, land of the hated Cowboys. Why would he do this?? While he’ll remain the head coach of the New Orleans Saints and commute to his job, this smells like something awful. I guess this is more of a “family move”, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder who broke the news.
But why set up shop in Cowboy territory and not make your home in New Orleans where you work? What’s wrong with New Orleans?
Payton admitted in his book that his family was mortified with the state of the city of New Orleans when they first moved. Who wouldn’t be? So that’s not that surprising. To move now, after 5 years of success at his job, seems a little more suspect. My best guess is that Payton has received more good will with the ownership and organization than ever, and the sentiments of his family on the city have not changed. Let’s face it, the upscale areas of Dallas are far more impressive, prominent, private and luxurious than anything you can find in New Orleans. No doubt about it. But I do think this is a slap in the face to the city he moved to. How can you feel the love when you’re not part of the community? To me it feels like he’s saying: New Orleans is becoming where he works and nothing more. It’s like he’s basically saying “love you guys, love the fans, love the money I make, but the city isn’t good enough for me to live in”.
It’ll be interesting to see how Payton explains this. Will he even bother? Will he take the stance that he doesn’t owe an explanation to anyone and he’s making a personal move for his family that’s none of our business? Will he say all the right things in an effort to placate upset Saints fans? Regardless of what he does, I don’t think it spells anything good for his long term commitment to the city and team. Either he has family problems, which could affect his job, or things are fine with his family, and he’s moving anyway. Either way, his wife and kids are now in Dallas where they will continue to build their empire. How long before he gets sick of the private jet commute? I’m guessing about half a season. Imagine if, God forbid, he starts to face negativity and adversity? That private jet may never come back. The timing of this is very odd, and I think it simplifies a change of career in the future. Particularly, it simplifies a move to the Dallas Cowboys. Maybe those internet rumors have partial merit.
I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit.
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