Why Tom Brady, Sean Payton won't be package deal for Saints

For better or for worse, fans can stop dreaming about Sean Payton and Tom Brady teaming up to save the New Orleans Saints this offseason. 

Per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis confirmed Friday that Dennis Allen will remain the club's head coach for at least the start of a second season. Allen was promoted from his role as defensive coordinator shortly after Payton stepped down as head coach last January and ultimately guided the Saints to a 7-10 record. 

Payton made it known before the conclusion of the regular season he could return to coaching this year, and it was reported last month he could embrace a second run with the Saints if they were interested. 

Back in November, former NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum said that Payton and Brady "could be a package deal" for a team looking to go in a different direction at coach and quarterback this winter. 

It's now no secret the Miami Dolphins looked into landing Payton and Brady for the 2022 campaign. While it's currently unclear if Brady plans to continue playing beyond the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff run, logic suggests he'd be an upgrade over New Orleans' Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston. Brady can hit free agency when the new NFL year opens in March and is being heavily linked with the Las Vegas Raiders and Dolphins.

The Saints still hold Payton’s coaching rights through 2024 per the terms of his contract. New Orleans has granted the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos permission to speak with the 59-year-old and PFT's Michael David Smith noted that Loomis informed those clubs "there is going to be compensation" if any of them wishes to acquire Payton. 

"It’s going to be different for every team because they have different picks and different things available to them," Loomis said about his asking price. "They have to get our permission to have a discussion with him, and then we have to have the compensation settled before they can actually hire him."