Sean Payton Confirms Interest In Bill Parcells As Saints Interim Head Coach

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is set to be suspended for one year on April 1 and, while it was previously assumed that a member of his current coaching staff would replace him, there's now some talk that Bill Parcells could take the interim position for a year.

Parcells was vague when asked if Payton has approached him about the interim job, just saying that the two have talked. At the NFL owners meeting on Tuesday morning, Payton confirmed to reporters that there is interest in having Parcells coach the team while he's out.

"He's a great teacher," he said. "Certainly I'm biased, having worked with him. But he's a Hall of Fame head coach. And I would also say there are some things probably set up within the framework of our program that would be exactly how he would have set things up had he been the head coach here back in '06. So there is some carryover that way."

ESPN reported that Payton and Saints GM Mickey Loomis are scheduled to meet with Parcells on Tuesday to discuss a potential role and gauge his interest.

The Saints would have to adhere to the Rooney Rule in the instance they hire someone like Parcells, outside the organization. That would require the team to interview a minority candidate, which would be a difficult task if Parcells is in the picture.

Payton could also appeal his suspension, which would give him more time to make a decision on the interim coach. Roger Goodell, the man who levied the suspension, would also hear the appeal, so the chances of it being overturned probably aren't very good.

For more on the possibility of Parcells joining the Saints, visit Canal Street Chronicles.