Sean Payton has always considered Bill Parcells his coaching mentor, even before they teamed up in Dallas with the Cowboys. Payton has been in constant contact with Parcells throughout the investigation by the NFL and after being suspended for one year. Payton met with the Saints organization and was unable to name a interim coach. Steve Spagnoulo has heading coaching experience, but this is first year with the team taking over the defense. Peter Carmichael, who everyone assumed would be the interim, passed on the opportunity. Payton has decided to be present for the owner meetings taking place this upcoming week. There has even been speculation that he may take an analyst job during his layoff with Fox, but that seems a little premature. He also has not decided if he will appeal his suspension, which runs from April 1 to after the Super Bowl. If he does appeal and get his sentence reduced, it is likely that Parcells would not officialy get an interim coach offer from the Saints.
