UPDATE: noon, Saturday, No. 19
There was an interesting Sean Payton storyline in the works, but not so fast: It was all just a misunderstanding.
After an erroneous report that the former Saints coach had actually given a pep talk to the Saints prior to Week 8, running back Alvin Kamara called it out as fake news.
NFL reporter Peter Schrager was quick to agree. It was a misunderstanding on his part and he apologized.
Payton’s visit was just a visit after all, which is what was reported at the time. When Pete Carmichael was asked about his former head coach in the building that day, the Saints OC said he didn’t even realize he had been there. That’s how low-key it was.
Thus ends a weird saga of misinformation that doesn’t really change much. The Saints sit at 3-7 and Sean Payton is not coming to the rest rescue.
ORIGINAL STORY
Sean Payton's recent visit to New Orleans might have had a bit more to it than originally thought.
The former Saints coach gave a "pep talk" to the team when he was in town prior to Week 8, according to NFL reporter Peter Schrager. It was followed by a 24-0 domination of the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Maybe the worst thing he could’ve done is give them a taste of the Sean Payton magic, because they won 24-0 once he like lit a fire under their asses and called out the defense," Schrager said on the most recent episode of the Bill Simmons podcast. "He goes back to L.A. where he’s living in Manhattan Beach or wherever, and they’re back to not being able to stop or score any points."
Payton's visit to the Saints' facility was known about, but there was no indication at the time that he had spoken with the team. He was also spotted courtside at a Pelicans game earlier that week as he caught a loose ball.
The Saints followed up that shutout victory with back-to-back disappointing losses to the Ravens and Steelers. There are a few potential explanations for the Saints' up and down play. One is that Payton's speech lit a fire, another is that the Saints' injuries have caught up to them in a much more significant way since that point, another is that the Raiders aren't beating anybody right now, falling in their two games since against the Jaguars and Colts and with a 2-7 record on the year.
Whatever the answer is, the Saints will be looking to recapture that magic when they return to the Caesars Superdome in Week 11 to host the struggling L.A. Rams.
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