Payton Says His Return Alone Doesn’t Fix Saints

PHOENIX (AP) — Sean Payton is trying to guard against anyone within the New Orleans Saints' organization subscribing to the notion that the team will return to its playoff form of recent seasons just because he's back.

Payton, who took part in NFC coaches' media availability at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix on Wednesday, says the Saints did a lot of things that prevented them from winning last season, such as ranking last in total defense and 25th in rushing.

Payton returned to work a little over two months ago from a full-season suspension in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation of the Saints. Payton says he's approaching his return as if he's new to a club that is coming off a losing season and requires substantive changes to return to contention.