With Mr. Benson, there is a premium on being in control. Loyalty is very heavily weighted in the equation. He is falsely accused of being spendthrift in all matters. While the organization is not nearly as lavish on the perks as some others, he has spent on coaches and personnel and, more importantly, has not been hesitant to eat the last year of a contract (even if he doesn't like the taste and asks for the money back).
He was hesitant to quickly lock up or extend Haslett after his early success, probably feeling twitchy after the Ditka debacle.
Haslett obviously didn't get it done, and it also didn't seem like it ever would. (Hard to imagine a Jim Haslett-coached team in the Super Bowl, at least one with Rick Venturi on the staff, isn't it?) A combination of factors indicated that he had worn out his welcome
The key word, as always, will be loyalty. It is the no. 1 criterion for employment in a Benson organization. And in a Benson organization, the word is narrowly defined. If Loomis thinks Payton shows enough of those qualities, he will risk his own career with Benson by extending Payton.
On the other hand, if Payton shows any signs of perhaps just playing out his contract and seeing what transpires instead of taking the offered extension, there is, although not up to 50%, at least more than a small risk that they show him the door. My guess is they'd promote Vitt.
Not trying to get ahead of ourselves, but it is what it is.
