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Dallas Cowboys Rumors: Sean Payton Could Be The Team’s Coach Next Year As Underperforming Jason Garrett On The Hot Seat

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 08:12 PST, Dec 17, 2015

The Dallas Cowboys are rumored to be interested in Sean Payton, with reports that the Cowboys may be looking to swing a big trade that would move on from the underperforming Jason Garrett.

Garrett has overseen a team on the verge of being a title contender and seen them fall to 4-9 this season, leading many to think he’s on the hot seat. While much of that wouldn’t be his fault — injuries to Tony Romo and Dez Bryant along with the departure of DeMarco Murray decimated last year’s potent offense — but Garrett has a history of mediocrity that could work against him.

That has led to growing rumors that the Dallas Cowboys could take a swing for New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton. Steven Mullenax, Cowboys beat writer for the Fansided blog The Landry Hat, noted that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been high on Payton, who was nearly picket as the team’s coach back in 2006.

Mullenax noted that if the Cowboys do end up firing Jason Garrett, Sean Payton makes the best choice.

“Firing Garrett after a 12-4 season seems like madness or possibly a rash decision. But don’t so easily forget the struggles that got the team to this point. Remember Garrett’s first three seasons at the helm of America’s Team. When you do, I believe you’ll see it’s the smart move to replace him in Dallas…but only if you can get someone better. And that person is current New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton.”

There have also been rumors that the New Orleans Saints might be willing to trade their head coach. The team is moving into rebuilding mode, and could use an influx of high draft picks.

While the Dallas Cowboys rumors pick up, there are some who think that Sean Payton will end up staying in place. Though the New Orleans Saints are moving solidly into rebuilding mode, Payton seems enthusiastic about the team’s future, and it’s rubbing off on his team.

“I’ve said this all season: We’ve got a young, hungry group of players that are coming to work, and they want to please, and they want to be coached hard,” Payton told ESPN. “Obviously there’s areas that we’re gonna have to improve in… But that gets back to the makeup of the guys you’re lookin’ to sign. And you get enough of those guys, then all of a sudden you turn the corner, and we’ve seen it happen before.

“But it’s entirely different than last season.”

The Dallas Cowboys are not the only team rumored to be interested in Sean Payton. Earlier this year reports connected the Miami Dolphins to the Saints coach, with sources saying he may be a target for next season. Payton has a connection to the team as well, serving as offensive coordinator to Dan Campbell, the Dolphins’ interim coach.

A trade for Sean Payton — or any head coach — would be unusual. Though a coach-to-team trade is possible, it hasn’t been seen in the NFL since 2002, when the Oakland Raiders sent Jon Gruden to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

There were rumors that the price for Sean Payton could be comparatively high. When the Miami Dolphins rumors surfaced, there were reports that the Indianapolis Colts could also be interested in Payton. If the Dallas Cowboys rumors are true, that’s the possibility of three teams bidding for Sean Payton and driving the price up very high.

[Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images]

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