New Commanders Owners Wanted to Fire Ron Rivera, Hire Sean Payton?

Sean Payton was in talks to return to the NFC East as the new leader of the Washington Commanders, according to the coach.

We don't know who will replace Dan Snyder as owner and CEO of the Washington Commanders, though we hope to have that answer soon. 

But we do know at least one of the ownership groups with a bid in on the team was already searching out their own head coach. 

That coming via Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton in an interview on Sirius XM Radio.

"Everyone's waiting to see what happens in Washington, and there was some interest from some potential ownership groups that are going to be bidding on - that currently have bid on that team - that were getting ahead of the game saying, 'Hey, if we get awarded this team, would you?'," Payton said in the interview when discussing some of the lead-up to his being traded to the Broncos. "And that's a place that's had great tradition...my whole NFL career prior to New Orleans was NFC East...that was a special place (and) it'll come back."

In this portion of the interview, Payton reminisces about his time coaching in the NFC East Division, where he spent time with every team except Washington. 

Payton first broke into the NFL in 1997 as the quarterbacks coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and was there until 1999 when he took the same position with the New York Giants. 

In 2000, Payton became the Giants' offensive coordinator and coached there until he left in 2003 to join Bill Parcells as the Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach. 

The 2006 season brought Payton's first shot at being a head coach, and that's when he departed the NFC East, eventually leading the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl win in the 2009 NFL season. 

Payton doesn't name the ownership group or groups he was in talks with, but clearly, the delay in the sale of the team and the need for the coach to get his hold on a job took priority over waiting for Washington. 

However, what's interesting to note is the coach's clear interest in potentially returning to the division, and leading a team he exclaimed his uncle was a big fan of. 

Also interesting is the intent of at least one potential ownership group to bring in a coach of their choosing, rather than continue with Ron Rivera who is currently in the seat and has helped lead the franchise through its most turbulent stretch to date.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82 and on the Locked On Commanders podcast.

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