The Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals both are interested in the services of former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. Denver has already met with him once.
He was supposedly going to meet with the Broncos a second time this week, but there was some question as to whether something was firmly scheduled for Wednesday.
However, if there was an interview scheduled, it has been delayed as he has an interview scheduled for Thursday with the Cardinals.
PHNX’s Howard Balzer reported the interview with the Cardinals and followed it with the report that Payton’s second interview with the Broncos has been delayed.
It could be that Payton is using the Cardinals in a leverage ploy for the Broncos’ job. Perhaps Payton would prefer to see if the Cardinals’ job is more attractive before speaking with the Broncos a second time.
The Cardinals seemed very interested in Payton and a good match for him, but that seemed to cool with the hiring of Monti Ossenfort as general manager.
But the newly scheduled interview sparks the hope of fans once again, as Payton’s Saints won more than 63% of their games over 15 seasons, went to the playoffs nine times and won a Super Bowl.
He is the most decorated coaching candidate.
There are complications. He will command a big salary. It is unknown how much roster control he wants and, because he is still technically under contract with the Saints despite retiring after the 2021 season, there will have to be compensation to the Saints to hire Payton.
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