Sean Payton, Saints agree to contract extension
- Payton's new deal reportedly is for five years
- Payton's original extension was voided by the NFL in the wake of the bounty scandal
The New Orleans Saints' disappointing season will at least end on a high note by getting their head coach back for 2013.
The team on Friday agreed in principle on a new contract with Sean Payton, according to a person informed of the progress of negotiations. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been signed and finalized.
FoxSports.com initially reported that the five-year agreement was in place.
"He's always been our head coach," Saints owner Tom Benson said, via The Times-Picayune. "I never had any doubt about that."
Payton's original contract extension, which was signed in 2011, ran through the 2015 season. The NFL voided the deal because of language that would've prevented Payton to leave the Saints if general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended, fired or left the organization.
It's unclear whether the wording in the new contract will be altered or deleted. The new deal would be subject to league approval once signed.
Payton's return will be welcome news for the Saints, who have suffered through a 7-8 season that was affected by the player suspensions resulting from the bounty situation – rulings that have since been vacated by former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Payton was suspended for a full season, a ruling over which Tagliabue had no say.
There was speculation Payton, a Dallas resident, could land with the Cowboys if Jason Garrett was fired. Last week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he wasn't contemplating a coaching change, though the team still has one more game to play Sunday against the Washington Redskins for the NFC East title. In other words, stay tuned on that front.
Even so, it seems Payton won't be available for that job or any others for which he'd been rumored (i.e. the Philadelphia Eagles').
USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell contributed to this report.