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The NFL wanted to make an example out of the Saints.  The Saints have instead become an example for how an organization can overcome adversity, regardless of its source or legitimacy.

The first road playoff win in Saints franchise history would have been significant regardless of when it happened.  That it happened one year after the league office delivered a potentially crippling blow to the team makes it even more impressive.

Apart from coach Sean Payton being suspended for a year, the NFL stripped the Saints of a pair of second-round draft picks.  And while rules technically were broken, the 22-page, single-spaced ruling from former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue overturning all player discipline carried a subtle-but-potent rebuke of his successor for addressing a cultural issue in the NFL not by giving everyone a fair chance to adapt to a new reality but by hammering the one team out of 32 that happened to be caught with a hand in the bounty jar.

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SEATTLE — Three things to know about next weekend’s New Orleans Saints–Seattle Seahawks divisional round playoff game at CenturyLink Field:

1. Back where Who Dat was handed its hat: The Saints were 0-5 in road playoff games in franchise history before defeating the Eagles 26-24 in Philadelphia on Saturday night. Now New Orleans returns to the site of its worst defeat this season, a 34-7 victory by the Seahawks in a Monday night game on Dec. 2. Seattle held the Saints to 44 yards rushing, and Russell Wilson had one of his best games of the season, completing 22 of 30 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns.

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PHILADELPHIA – A few thoughts on the New Orleans Saints‘ 26-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Saturday’s NFC playoff opener, which sends them to Seattle for the divisional round next week.

What it means: Can’t win a big game on the road? Can’t win out in the cold? The Saints finally made their counter-argument, making this one of the biggest wins in franchise history. It was their first road playoff win of all-time, snapping an 0-5 skid. They also snapped a three-game losing streak on the road this year.

However, it won’t be any easier to repeat that feat next Saturday at Seattle against the top-seeded Seahawks. The Saints’ ugliest performance of the year came at Seattle on a Monday night last month when they were routed 34-7. They’ll need to bring the same run game and defensive effort with them next week that they brought to Philadelphia.

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PHILADELPHIA — Shayne Graham, signed by the Saints just more than two weeks ago, kicked a 32-yard field goal on the final play Saturday night to give New Orleans its first road playoff victory, 26-24 over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Graham’s third field goal sent the Saints (12-5) to Seattle for next Saturday’s divisional playoff game against the NFC’s top seed. The Seahawks routed the Saints 34-7 during the season.

Drew Brees threw for a touchdown, Mark Ingram rushed for 97 yards and another score, and the Saints’ defense slowed Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense just enough. New Orleans had been 0-5 in postseason games outside of the Big Easy since entering the league in 1967.

Philadelphia wound up 10-7 in Kelly’s first year as coach. He guided the Eagles from worst to first in the NFC East, but they were only 4-5 at home.

New Orleans Saints
Picks: SS Kenny Vaccaro, OT Terron Armstead, DT John Jenkins, WR Kenny Stills, DE Rufus Johnson.
Analysis: Vaccaro was clearly the best safety available in a strong group for that position (three went in the first round and another went with the top pick of the second round). Vaccaro has a certain confidence and edginess that coach Sean Payton loves. More importantly, he can play either strong, free or even cornerback in a pinch. Armstead walks in as a likely starter on a team that historically has gotten by with lesser offensive tackles. Likewise, Jenkins is a likely starter in New Orleans’ new 3-4 defense and is a terrific space eater … as long as he doesn’t eat his way out of the league.
Grade: B+

From here

Linebacker Scott Fujita signed a one-day contract with the New Orleans Saints on Monday while he was on a hiking expedition in the Andes Mountains. Fujita signed the deal so he could retire from the NFL as a member of the Saints.Photo courtesy of the New Orleans Saints

NEW ORLEANS, La. —Normally, I wait until the annual Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., to unveil my first mock draft, but after the Saints lost to the Carolina Panthers 44-38 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, I figured why wait.

Pat Yasinskas

Sean Payton’s second rebuilding job might be more of a chore than his first.

Friday night’s news that Payton and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to the outline of a new contract extension should bring joy to a fan base that’s been suffering since the bounty scandal broke back in March. Go ahead and celebrate a bit, because this means Payton isn’t jumping over to the Dallas Cowboys.

Payton

But don’t automatically assume that Payton’s stepping back in will instantly repair all that’s wrong with the Saints. Assuming the deal gets finalized and is approved by the NFL, which nullified Payton’s previous contract extension, the coach is going to have his work cut out for him when he rejoins the team.

The league previously has said Payton will be eligible to return from his season-long suspension the day after the Super Bowl. It’s a good thing Payton recently competed in a half-marathon, because he is going to have to hit the ground running if the Saints are going to get back to what they once were.

With Aaron Kromer coaching the first six games and Joe Vitt taking over after that, the Saints are 7-8 heading into Sunday’s season finale against Carolina. The Saints are missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

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By Adam Schefter | ESPN

Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to a five-year contract extension, according to a league source.

The terms of the extension are undisclosed, but may be similar to the deal that was earlier disapproved by the league, according to a league source.

The Saints were given written permission by the NFL to negotiate a contract extension with the suspended Payton in November.

The extension agreed upon by Payton and the Saints was rejected by the league because it contained a clause allowing Payton to leave if general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended or departed the organization.