Saints coach Payton finds inspiration on why not to rest players (1 Viewer)

[Dan in Lafayette]

Barry Wilner (AP) / USA Today

PALM BEACH, Fla. — New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton believes the New York Giants provided inspiration to the rest of the NFL last winter.

And he's not referring to the Giants' stunning wild-card run to the Super Bowl title that included four road wins.

Payton, once an assistant coach in New York, is certain his peers were just as impressed with how the Giants performed in a 38-35 loss to New England that completed the Patriots' unbeaten regular season. New York already was set to be at Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs and had little to gain from playing its regulars, but did anyway.

Five weeks later, the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Full Story – USA Todayhttp://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2008-04-02-2080990886_x.htm