METAIRIE, La. -- If Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints ultimately decide to part ways, it raises the question: Who gets the assistant coaches in the divorce?
Three of Payton's most trusted lieutenants -- offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., special teams coordinator Greg McMahon and assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Vitt -- have been with him for his entire 10-year run in New Orleans.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and defensive line coach Bill Johnson are also longtime staff members who were part of the Super Bowl team.
I believe that both Carmichael and Allen remain under contract with the Saints, which could also be the case with many other assistant coaches, if not all of them.