Sean Payton Has Been Back For Two Days And Already Fired Two Coaches

The NFL announced on Tuesday that Sean Payton's season-long suspension for his role in the bounty scandal was over. He presumably spent Wednesday moving all his desk tchotchkes back into his office. Today he fired defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and secondary coach Ken Flajole.

"I personally want to thank Steve and Ken for their contributions during what was an unprecedented 2012 season," Payton said in a statement. "Philosophically we are changing our defense to a 3-4 alignment and right now is the best time to accomplish this transition."

The switch to a 3-4 may be true, but it's also good cover for "this defense was an abortion." Like, historically bad. (If you Google "Saints defense," you get a November Bleacher Report article on how the Saints were winning with defense. So.)

Maybe the slackers and layabouts thought they could get away with giving up the most yards of any team ever since the big boss was away. But Sean Payton's always watching, and waiting, and caressing pink slips. He said yesterday the defense "keeps [him] up at night." Sleep well, coach.