Sean Payton is channeling his inner Colonel “Hannibal” Smith.
If and when Sean Payton decides to return to the NFL, he’ll likely have his pick of available jobs. He’d also potentially have his pick of available quarterbacks, if things break his way.
While rumors have attached the former Saints head coach to a number of potential openings including the Cowboys and Chargers, Payton may have his sights set on an available quarterback to form his own A-Team: current Ravens superstar Lamar Jackson.
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On Monday night’s “Manningcast” broadcast, Payton teased the idea of squadding up with Jackson, while heaping an inordinate amount of praise during Baltimore’s 27-13 jumping of his former squad.
.@SeanPayton has always been a big Lamar Jackson fan 😅
“I have a chance to be a free agent, and he has a chance to be a free agent.” pic.twitter.com/4fE3lT5lcD
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 8, 2022Â
Well, the No. 1 thing is, I have a chance to be free agent, and he has a chance to be a free agent, I would say that first. On a serious note, I think we’ve seen him get the ball down field — I feel like every weekend we see great, vertical passing game by him. He’s made some throws tonight, he’s missed a couple he’s been frustrated with. Man, he’s explosive. I think he’s become a better down-the-field thrower, partly because the game he’s playing now is a little different from what he was playing in college.
When you watch him here, the late nights — this guy, he just drives me crazy, trying to come up with a defensive scheme to gameplan for him.
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It remains to be seen whether Jackson will actually hit the open market come the offseason, but the passer and his organization have put contract talks on hold as the season got underway.
The Ravens still have an opportunity to franchise-tag Jackson and keep him in Baltimore for at least one more season, which would throw a wrench into things.
Of course, this isn’t the first time that Payton has been at (or around) the center of some kind of evil plan revolving around himself and an All-Pro passer. Payton was rumored to be a part of a Dolphins scheme that included wooing Tom Brady to South Beach. Close, but no cigar on that one.
Payton could only hope that the next plan comes together.
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