Pro-Sean Payton Shenanigans Prove Saints Can't Handle Adversity Well

In the wake of the suspensions handed out by the NFL to New Orleans Saints players and coaches for their involvement in the three-year bounty program, the true indicator of just how devastating the suspensions will be won’t be known until we see how the Saints deal with this adversity.

First impressions show that the Saints players, coaches and executives still able to participate are failing miserably at coping.

Mark Ingram tweeted a picture of a “Free Sean Payton” wristband, which isn’t even close to the worst idea to come out of New Orleans this week.

The team decided that during head coach Sean Payton's year-long suspension, his seat in team  meetings, on the team bus and on the team plane will be left vacant.

Did Payton die or has he just been suspended? No, don't answer. I already know Payton lives because he's not living smart right now, either (more on that later).

I'm half expecting the next item to come from Who Dat Nation to be a "WWSPD" wristband. What Would Sean Payton Do?

Good question.

He's adding to the distraction of being suspended, that's what Payton is doing.

According to The Times-Picayune, Payton got league approval to rent an office in the downtown Benson Tower. Yes, the same Benson that owns the team.

According to the stipulations of Payton's suspension, Payton is not allowed to be in contact with anyone from the Saints organization while he's suspended. It's understandable that he would want an office to stay apprised of the NFL while he's suspended, but does it have to be in New Orleans? Does it have to be in a building owned by the Saints owner?

All these shenanigans are going on in New Orleans while quarterback Drew Brees is holding out for a long-term contract that most feel he richly deserves (pun intended). Brees was even on WWl radio in New Orleans Wednesday talking about his feelings.

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"What's frustrating on my end is the lack of communication. I know that we've reached out on quite a few occasions, and at times, I know I've been frustrated by the lack of response," Brees said.

"I don't think the negotiation should have been this difficult."

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It's easy to sit back and say that the most important thing for the Saints to do is get the Brees deal done—quite honestly, because it's the truth.

Brees, in his radio interview, stated that these negotiations weren't easy and they were not as simple as people think. That's likely an understatement.

It's also absurd to believe that the Saints can drop everything else and focus solely on the Brees contract.

But what the Saints can do, both players and the organization—especially the organization—is stop trying to sway public opinion towards an “us against the world” mentality and focus more on making the most important Saints commodity—Brees—realize just how much this team needs him.

Players can reach out, I’m sure they already have.

The Saints organization can pay the man.