Do you think Jerry Jones will go for Payton after the Tuna retires?

Payton is building his own team and his own relationship with the New Orleans fans, who are, redundant to say, deeply enamored of him, and for very good reason. He also sort of has a relationship with the city at this point--people talking to him about what the team means to New Orleans, and the dinners at Emeril's. And whatever there is to say about Benson, he does not have a history of forcing his choices onto his head coach and otherwise interfering with the coaching.

Back in Dallas, Payton has a meddlesome owner and fans that think they are entitled to Super Bowls instead of being grateful for what the team is doing for the city.

Payton's a smart guy, and I think he would stay put, with probably a pay raise and a contract extension as a result of Dallas's interest.

The other thing is, I think Payton truly understands and believes in this team and the fact that it has a mission beyond football in helping to lift up the spirits of the people of New Orleans. He seems to enjoy that part of it, and for that reason alone, I don't think he would go anywhere.

You bet he feels this way. I had the opportunity to meet him before the season started and he was asking us all sorts of questions about the area, how certain areas were coming along, etc. He was genuinely concerned and at the same time excited to be a part of the city's rebuilding process.