Sept. 18, 2011;New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton during their game against the Chicago Bears at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-US PRESSWIRE
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton’s season long suspension threatened to banish him to exile from not only his team, but the players and staff he considered to be friends as well.
Payton is not allowed to even converse on non-football matters with anyone in the organization, which recently included the dedicating of the Steve Gleason “Rebirth” statue at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
A break came for Payton though when he was given permission by the NFL to attend the Hall of Fame ceremonies where former Saints offensive lineman Willie Roaf and a close friend Cortez Kennedy were being inducted.
Payton was even allowed to travel on owner Tom Benson’s plane along with Benson, his wife Gayle and general manager Mickey Loomis. However, Payton would not be allowed to stay for the Sunday Hall Of Fame Game when the Saints play the Arizona Cardinals.
He did get to pull a nice surprise on his team though when he appeared out of nowhere and entered the section where Saints players and staff had gathered to watch the ceremony.
Footage of Payton and his son Connor showed the coach grinning from ear to ear and embracing quarterback Drew Brees who also was sporting a boyish smile on his face.
Topics: Arizona Cardinasl, Connor Payton, Cortez Kennedy, Drew Brees, Gayle Benson, Hall Of Fame, Hall Of Fame Game, Joe Vitt, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton, Steve Gleason, Tom Benson, Willie Roaf
38 years old and Louisiana born and raised. I am married with a beautiful daughter. Became a Staff writer for Who Dat Dish in May 2011 and Editor in April 2012. Became a New Orleans Saints fan at a young age from my grandmother. She loved the Saints and passed that love of the Black and Gold onto me. I have a passion for football because I feel that it mirrors life in many ways: No matter who you are or where you come from, anyone can achieve their goals on any given day.
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