This is perplexing. Not long after NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported that the New Orleans Saints intended on meeting with former Stanford head coach David Shaw about their vacancy, NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that isn’t the case — saying, “The Saints do not have plans to interview David Shaw at this time.” That sentiment was echoed by Matthew Paras of the Times-Picayune | Advocate.
Slater expanded on her report during a TV spot with NFL Network: “My understanding according to two sources informed that David Shaw the former head coach Stanford will get a phone call to interview for the head coaching position. Now why is that interesting? It’s easy for Mickey Loomis to pick up the phone and call Sean Payton and ask what he thinks of Shaw.”
“That call is expected to be placed and then we’ll see when Shaw is heading down to New Orleans to interview for that position,” Slater added.
The conflicting reports could mean the Saints just haven’t formally requested an interview yet; Shaw spent the last year working as a senior personnel executive with the Denver Broncos. It could also mean that both of the sources Slater cited in her report were misinformed. This early stage in the offseason has a ton of moving parts and protocols to follow, which can lead to confusion.
So stay tuned. But it would be a big disappoint if Shaw isn’t in the running after all. One of the biggest criticisms of the Saints in recent years has been Mickey Loomis’ unwillingness to cast a wide net. He had his mind made up that Dennis Allen was his guy when this job first became available, and it took two ugly years for the team to look for a real alternative to Pete Carmichael as their offensive coordinator. That pattern has not led to success.
Shaw would bring exactly the kind of fresh perspective this team needs. Spurning him and others like him in favor of people Loomis already knows well would be a mistake. They must go looking outside his own circle of influence.
