The New Orleans Saints are entering a new chapter. As it is being written, they are pushing past earlier in their franchise's "book" that involved plenty of Sean Payton memories. Dennis Allen is no longer their head coach, replaced by Kellen Moore this offseason.
During this week's league-wide meetings and interviews, the former Saints head coach talked about the new leader in black and gold.
Sean Payton discusses comparisons to Kellen Moore
The long-time Saints head coach and only one to win a Super Bowl title with the Saints has heard the "offensive guru" comparisons between himself and the new Saints HC. Payton has a lot of respect for Moore.
“I’m super close to those people, [Saints General Manager] Mickey [Loomis]. I saw a handful of them this past week. They’re looking to win, so there are some similarities. We’re all, to some degree as new coaches, not considered long shots, but just unknowns. Analytically if you looked at it, there’d probably be a hit rate—I don’t know what the percentage is, but it’s difficult. Generally, you’re going somewhere where it’s broken, and you’ve got to fix it quickly.
I think Kellen has that calmness about him. I think there’s a uniqueness to that city that maybe is not for everyone, but I think he’ll do well there. I say that because of ownership [with] [Saints owner] Mrs. [Gayle] Benson and because of the front office with those pieces in place that I was very familiar with. Those are the reasons you can have impossible jobs or good jobs. I think in this case, he’s got a good job.”
-- Sean Payton on comparisons to Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore
Clearly, there is little doubt in Payton's mind that the front office in New Orleans is capable of bringing success back to The Big Easy. Hiring Moore was a step in that direction.
That being said, it is the same organization that he left abruptly just a few years ago. He didn't feel that they were the right fit for him anymore, as he went to the AFC and the Denver Broncos. That's notable to consider in this situation.
Regardless, Moore has another fan around the NFL in the former Saints head coach. We will see if he can prove all of his fellow coaches correct this season and beyond in New Orleans.
