METAIRIE, La. -- One year ago today, instead of preparing for the New Orleans Saints' first playoff game since 2014, Sean Payton was officially announcing one of the toughest decisions he has made in 12 years as a head coach -- the firing of longtime assistants Joe Vitt, Greg McMahon and Bill Johnson.
It wouldn’t be fair to suggest that one led directly to the other. The Saints won a Super Bowl with those coaches on staff. But it’s one of the most telling illustrations of how much things have changed around Saints camp in a one-year span.