First we had Mike McCarthy's watermelon smashing, now we have Sean Payton's cheese baskets.
Following Sunday’s 21-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill revealed to ProFootballTalk that Payton recently placed baskets of cheese into the locker of every player on the team as a motivational tool.
What exactly was the message?
“Don’t eat the cheese,” Hill said. “Don’t get into the hype. Keep your head down. Keep working.”
As far as motivational tactics go, this one is rather unusual on the surface, but it stems from an expression that Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells, Payton’s mentor, would say in Dallas.
The Saints seem to haven taken the message to heart, too. Sunday’s win over the Falcons clinched a playoff berth – the first team to do so this season – and moved them to 10-2, the best record in the NFC.
Drew Brees is reportedly making progress and could be nearing a return as they try to get fully healthy for the playoffs – perhaps Brees’ final chance at a second Super Bowl.
As for what kind of cheese Payton gifted the team?
“Everything you can imagine,” Hill said.
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