The New Orleans Saints have spoken all offseason about appreciating having things back to "normal" for the first time since 2009. But one thing has changed with the organization: Coach Sean Payton looks like he is ready to play.
"Obviously if you see him, he's cut. He's ripped up now, man," cornerback Jabari Greer told The Times-Picayune.
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"He's more swollen," said safety Roman Harper, who agreed to a contract extension that guarantees him $4 million in 2013. "He looks like he is in very good shape."
"He's dropped about 18 pounds. He's at his fighting weight," Drew Brees joked.
I've sadly watched the NFL closely enough the last decade to notice a pronounced trend among head coaches. They often show up to training camp in terrific shape, then slowly fall apart like the rest of us when week-after-week of late nights and pizza orders catch up to them. By Week 14, everyone looks like they need a nap and a jog.
Perhaps a year off from coaching would do some good for just about everyone in the NFL.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
