Sean Payton reaches out to mentor Bill Parcells as potential interim head coach

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is preparing for his year long suspension from the team effective April 1st, stemming from the NFL’s investigation into the teams “bounty” program.

Several internal candidates have emerged to act as interim head coach including offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

But Payton has taken it upon himself to test the interest of  his friend, and mentor, Bill Parcells to coach the team in 2012 during his absence.

Several reports confirm that Payton has spoken with Parcells over the last several days about joining the Saints.

Parcells and Payton have been close since their days with the Dallas Cowboys, where Sean was his assistant head coach during Parcell’s tenure as head coach.

Payton also famously sought Parcells counsel before the Saints Superbowl appearance against the Indianapolis Colts in 2009.

It was though that Parcells pushed Payton to install “Ambush”, the surprise onside kick to open the second half, which of course the Saints recovered effectively “stealing” a possession away from Manning and the Colts.

The play was similar to Parcell’s own call during the Giants Superbowl victory in 1987.

Trailing the Broncos by a point in the second half, Denver’s defense had seemingly stopped the Giants offense.

On fourth-and-two Parcell’s lined up the Giants punting unit, but snapped the ball directly to backup quarterback Jeff Rutledge, who ran for a first down.

New York would go on to score on the drive, taking the lead and never looking back in the 39 -20 victory.

It’s unclear how interested Parcells is in the move, or if Payton has cleared it with Saints owner Tom Benson or general manger Mickey Loomis.

Parcells has not coached since 2006, but did spend several season with the Miami Dolphins as their Executive Vice President of Football Operations where he helped the team find moderate success.