Cowboys VP Stephen Jones Shoots Down Sean Payton Rumor
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 28: New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton on field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
On Sunday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Dallas Cowboys attempted to pursue New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton "through back channels" after last season.
Their efforts ultimately proved futile. Payton wound up parlaying the Cowboys' interest into a lucrative contract extension with New Orleans instead.
He's locked in with the Saints through the 2026 season.
Now, assuming Rapoport is accurate, Dallas could technically be found guilty of tampering, if the league wanted to pursue the matter.
In a radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan this morning, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones denied the franchise inquired about Payton last offseason.
“[It’s] just untrue and obviously don’t comment on rumors like that,” Jones said, via Pro Football Talk. “Obviously our focus right now is on beating the Eagles and certainly everybody knows what we think of Jason. If anything, we’ve been criticized to a fault for what we do think of him and he just did a great job of getting this team back on track yesterday. And we’re focused on beating the Eagles.”
Garrett took some of the heat off himself by thumping the Rams yesterday. A win over Philadelphia on the road this Sunday would give Dallas its third division title in four seasons.
However, barring a surprise run to the Super Bowl, Garrett is expected to be fired after the season. If the Cowboys want to pursue Payton--Rapoport says they won't this time--they'll have to acquire him via trade.
