NFL ban wouldn’t block Payton from coaching Arkansas

[Big Bid'Ness]

Fromrofootballtalk

Earlier today, a reader posed an intriguing question that sparked an extended Twitter debate. Since many of you never have and never will use Twitter, we decided to import the debate to the pages of PFT.

The reader asked whether suspended Saints coach Sean Payton could spend 2012 coaching at Arkansas. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tells PFT that Payton’s suspension would not prevent him from taking the job.

Of course, Payton’s contract might, even if he’s prevented from working during the coming season. But if Saints owner Tom Benson has no problem with Payton making productive use of his time away from the NFL, then any language in the deal that could scuttle a one-year arrangement for Payton in Fayetteville would be irrelevant, since Benson wouldn’t be inclined to enforce the deal.

Some Arkansas fans have pointed out that a Band-Aid approach to the sudden termination of Bobby Petrino wouldn’t work because the program needs a long-term solution. But how can the program find the right long-term coach in the middle of April, when the candidates are few and far betwen?

It would make much more sense to hire Payton, elevate the program’s status and stature for 2012, and then parlay that extra attention/notoriety into making a play for a top-shelf coach come 2013.

Firing Petrino so late in the offseason makes the 2012 largely a lost cause. Why not salvage it with a skilled and experienced head coach who has plenty of time on his hands?

For Payton, that could be the best way to fill the void in his life — and the best way to avoid the temptation of constantly communicating in 2012 with men like Drew Brees and Joe Vitt, in defiance of the terms of Payton’s suspension.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

But they ban him from talking to Mickey Loomis who has a beach house like half a mile away from Coach. Right. There are rumors that he can't even talk to Jay Glazer.

 

[Elite]

Beach house, he doesn't live there permanently...

It's not like they HAVE to live right next to each other the entire time of the suspension.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Beach house, he doesn't live there permanently...

It's not like they HAVE to live right next to each other the entire time of the suspension.

If you were a millionaire and had the entire summer time + off wouldn't you spend it at a beach house?

Especially if you live in a apartment.

 

[Elite]

Not if it would involve me breaking the rules of my suspension, no.

 

[elcheato]

I think Payton will survive. He can just buy another beach house if he really wanted to..

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Not if it would involve me breaking the rules of my suspension, no.

It wouldn't...

 

[Elite]

If he feels too tempted to talk to Sean Payton at his beach house and talking to him would violate his suspension, then yes, that would be violating his suspension.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

If he feels too tempted to talk to Sean Payton at his beach house and talking to him would violate his suspension, then yes, that would be violating his suspension.

I was just saying they could both run into each other walking down the beach and it would have to be reported and could be a violation.

Sean Payton could cross paths with Pete Carmichael in Walmart and it would have to be reported and could be determined as a violation.

It's incredibly stupid.

 

[RipCity32]

What determines a violation though? If he reports he had contact with him, will the NFL still take action against him?

 

[jonathanlambert33]

What determines a violation though? If he reports he had contact with him, will the NFL still take action against him?

Honestly I have no idea, but that's a good question.

 

[RipCity32]

Really doesn't make much sense. Why report it if he would just get in trouble anyways? He can probably contact people as long as he reports. But if he doesn't report it, that's probably how he will get in more trouble.
Really the only thing that makes sense to me.

 

[Lake Louise]

I've been wondering how they'll find out if he made contact with anyone anyways. This whole thing came about with him not telling NFL something he knew, in a sense. If he came across someone associated with the NFL, by accident, and he didn't report it, how would they know? Unless, the person he contacted reported it. Any contact gets him in trouble anyway. Just seems like a tough thing to really keep track of 24/7.

 

[cruzg24]

This is so stupid its not even funny. Sean Payton isnt allowed to speak to anyone that is associated with the NFL. Who do you think he's friends with? Most of his close acquaintances are going to be in the NFL. I mean I understand the whole dont talk to the Saints part, but everybody in the NFL is just a little excessive. Excessive to the point of being unconstitutional.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

The entire thing is stupid. Now they're saying the NFL hasn't announced player penalties yet because the NFLPA got involved and has "revealed" that the NFL doesn't have any real evidence to suspend the players.