PHOENIX -- New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday morning that his club won't sign restricted free agent cornerback Malcolm Butler to an offer sheet, but he described the Saints' interest as "ongoing" and said the process might "take a bit of time."
Butler, the New England Patriots hero from Super Bowl XLIX, visited with the Saints earlier this month. The Patriots have tendered him at the first-round level, for $3.91 million, but Butler hasn't signed the tender.
If another team signs Butler to an offer sheet and the Patriots don't match it, that team would surrender its first-round pick to New England.