Sean Payton promised change.

In fact, change has already begun in New Orleans.

Just hours after the Saints finished a disappointing 7-9 season that left them home for the playoffs, changes were being made.

More have been promised.

Payton said he and General Manager Mickey Loomis would look at “every element of the program. I think it is important that we do that. I think we have to look starting with ourselves and then going through not only the coaches, not only the players.

“There’s a lot of things that you want to make sure that you look closely at and we will take our time and do that.”

While at the time Payton said nothing about defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, most figured he would be one of the first to go.

During the season he and Payton were seen on the sidelines in shouting matches during games. His defense, which finished fourth overall in the NFL during his first season with the team in 2013, slipped to 31st this season.

Yet in a story this week in the Times-Picayune, Ryan was called “safe,” meaning he and his flowing hair will be back with the Saints for another season.

That means the most surprising move of all by Payton is the one he isn’t going to make.

It likely will also be his biggest gamble.

Rob is part of that famous Ryan family that seems to bring great defense and even greater drama to every team that employs them.

The Ryans are the life of every party they attend. But like others they seem to run out their welcome quickly and often stay too long.

This will by Rob Ryan’s third year at the helm of the Saints roller-coaster defense, and you wonder if this might be one too many.

But, just like all the other Ryans, Rob is loved by his players.

“Man, I love him as a coach,” safety Kenny Vaccaro said after the last game. “I almost want to tear up just even talking about him.”

Vaccaro is not alone.

But while all the players may love the Ryans, most above them don’t.

However, Payton has said the verbal tussles on the sidelines didn’t bother him, calling them a part of the game.

Still, Ryan’s philosophy may be the biggest part of the gamble to keep him.

He, like the rest of his family, is about making big plays. His defenses often takes chances, seemingly willing to give up a few plays down the field in an effort to get a few turnovers.

When it works it is a thing of beauty and makes life easy for the offense.

When it doesn’t, the offense is put in a tough position of trying to win shoot out after shoot out. This past season was a turkey shoot when it came to scoring on the Saints, especially at crunch time. Ryan’s defense gave up late leads in several games, any one of which could have meant the Saints won the division.

That might have been the most frustrating part of all. A little safety first consideration at the right time and the Saints might still be playing this weekend.

Instead, Ryan was happy to roll the dice and they too often came up craps.

“Obviously we drank the Kool-Aid a little bit too much,” Ryan said. “And if they don’t think so, I think that’s wrong. I think that’s an honest opinion.

“I think we forgot how we had success (in 2013). We played better, when our backs were against the wall, when we had a lot to prove.”

Well, he and his defense have a lot to prove in the coming year as well.

And this time Payton will have to answer for the defense if things don’t go well.

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Jim Gazzolo is managing sports editor. Email him at jgazzolo@americanpress.com

(MGNonline)