New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees reportedly will not need foot surgery this offseason after the star spent the last two weeks of the season playing with a torn plantar fascia. The Saints have numerous questions heading into 2016, including whether Sean Payton will return as head coach.
UPDATE: Reports have Sean Payton staying with the Saints as head coach.
Payton's status with the Saints has been up in the air for most of the season despite the fact that Payton has years left on his contract. According to Pro Football Talk, there has been speculation during the season and after the regular season that the Saints may not want to bring Payton back and could allow another team to negotiate a new deal with the coach in exchange for draft compensation. PFT reports that at "this point, it's unclear what will happen" with Payton heading into the offseason.
Payton has said to reporters that he wants to stay in New Orleans, but the Saints have yet to make any official statements about the future for Payton. Brees has spoken up in support of Payton and is hoping for the coach to return, but also added that the decision is out of his hands. According to Pro Football Talk, teams like the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles could be interested in working out a deal for the head coach with the Saints.
The Indianapolis Colts ended up keeping Chuck Pagano with a new contract, but not before talking with Payton's reps about a potential deal, according to Tom James of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Giants co-owner John Mara spoke with reporters after the team announced that Tom Coughlin would not be returning and he was asked about the potential of trading a draft pick to get a new head coach. While Payton was not mentioned by name specifically, Mara said that the team wouldn't "completely rule out" making that type of move for their next head coach.
Payton has past ties to the Giants after previously working as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the team and he could be a potential option to take over for Coughlin. The Dolphins have started their search for a new head coach with names like Mike Shanahan and Adam Gase coming up as options, while Payton was also mentioned as a target, according to the Miami Herald.
Brees has expressed support for Payton, who has been the head coach in New Orleans while Brees has put up some of the most productive numbers in the NFL. Brees is coming into the offseason after dealing with a foot injury and according to Ed Werder of ESPN, Brees will not need surgery for his injury. Werder reports that Brees met with Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, who recommended that Brees rest for a month or so before starting his offseason training program, which would allow the foot to heal without surgery.
