Is Sean Payton's Honeymoon Over in New Orleans?

The New Orleans Saints are headed to the 2006 NFC championship game. Seems like just yesterday that Sean Payton was the talk of the town, the Saints were in their first ever championship game in their long and woeful existence, as well as the No. 1 passing offense in the NFL (all three years Payton was Head Coach). 

Every team was looking at the Saints as the team to beat in 2007, but what came the next two years was not what anyone expected.

The Saints went on to have two very mediocre seasons where the defense was ranked near the bottom of the league, and if you ask me Payton has been given a pass for these last two years.

This year, the Saints have made the move to fire defensive coordinator Garry Gibbs and hire new D-coordinator Greg Williams, and I think that was Mickey Loomis telling Sean Payton that he has one more year to turn the ship around or he's done.

Now, before you diehard Payton lovers start to call me crazy for thinking about firing him, think about this Eric Mangini got his first Head Coaching job the same year as Sean Payton.

They both had the same records (10-6) getting both their respective teams to the playoffs (Jets lost in the first round), Mangini was fired early this offseason after missing the playoffs the last two seasons (sound familiar).

The team's records under Payton isn't the only reason I have come to this conclusion, Paytons play calling ability has been under question every year he's been the Head Coach.

Not running the ball in key moments, when he finally does run the ball his play call it self is questioned. Sean Payton had a great first season and I don't know if it was just a fluke, I hope that's not the case but he has not show the same passion he did during his first season.

The team is not performing down the stretch like they were his first year, I just wonder if he has gotten full of himself.

I heard them talking about Sean Payton and how he was a offensive mastermind, and that got me to thinking, Payton has been trying to empress all these experts into thinking he is this great offensive genius instead of making the right call to win the game (exp; 2007 vs the Tampa Bay Bucs the reverse to Henderson that was a fumble).

Maybe I'm too hard on Payton but I really think Payton is on a short leash this year, maybe I'm wrong but I think the honeymoon between Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints is almost over.