You can add another team to the list of those who are waiting in line to interview former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. And it’s fair to say that not many expected this one.
On Saturday, it was reported that the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals had already been granted permission by the Saints to speak with Payton. And now, it looks like the Carolina Panthers are throwing their hat into the ring.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Panther have requested permission from their division rivals to speak with their former coach. And, somewhat surprisingly, they’ve been given the thumbs up.
As Schefter points out, this wouldn’t be the first time we see a big-name coach get traded to a division rival. And while the Saints obviously don’t want to help a team that they have to play twice each year, you’d also have to think that they wouldn’t mind taking some valuable draft picks from the Panthers while potentially weakening their actual roster in the process.
The Panthers have a number of pieces that could interest the Saints, including the ninth-overall pick in the upcoming draft.
One thing’s for sure: If the Panthers want a chance at hiring Payton, they’re going to have to pay the Saints more than any of Sean’s other potential suitors.
