Saints Bounty Program: 3 Best Candidates to Replace Sean Payton as Head Coach

Since New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton will be suspended for the entire 2012 season, the team now needs to find a short-term replacement for its talented coach.

Having a veteran quarterback like Drew Brees, who knows the offense and the organization very well, means the Saints don't have to find the perfect coach. 

Let's look at the three best candidates to replace Payton as head coach for this season.

Pete Carmichael Jr.

The Saints offensive coordinator figures to be the best coaching candidate because he has experience running the offense and has many head coaching qualities.

The Indianapolis Colts asked for permission to interview him for their head coaching vacancy this offseason, but he did not get the job.

Carmichael has been with the Saints for several years now and would understand the team better than an outside hire would.

His ability to work well with Brees and call plays from the sideline will certainly help his case. Carmichael is ready to be an NFL head coach and will be one soon, regardless of whether the Saints promote him this season. 

Steve Spagnuolo

The former St. Louis Rams head coach is an interesting candidate because of his previous head coaching experience and great defensive knowledge.

As a Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator with the New York Giants in 2007, Spagnuolo would be able to improve the Saints defense in 2012, a unit that was a major weakness for them last year.

Spagnuolo knows the NFC very well and also demands the most out of his players. He could serve as head coach this season and remain with the team in a defensive role when Payton returns for the 2013 season.

Jim Mora

The veteran head coach would be a fantastic one-year replacement for Payton, bringing leadership and lots of coaching experience to the Saints.

Mora wouldn't be the head coach of the future, but he might be interested in coming back to the NFL with a team like the Saints, who are still a top contender in the NFC.

Mora was the head coach of the Saints for a decade, from 1986 to 1996, and knows the city of New Orleans quite well.

Maybe he could take the Saints to the playoffs.

Follow @NicholasGoss35