Sean Payton put in an MVP-like performance. From the sideline.
The New Orleans coach made all the right calls in the Super Bowl -- even one that didn't look so good at first, well, it turned out just fine. Thanks in large part to Payton's bravado, the Saints won the first Super Bowl title in their franchise's largely dismal history, beating that other Peyton -- you know, Manning -- and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 Sunday night.
Payton will go down in Super Bowl lore for calling an onside kick at the start of the second half, the first time one had been attempted in this game before the desperation of the fourth quarter. The Saints recovered and drove for a touchdown that put them ahead for the first time at 13-10.
"We were going to be aggressive," Payton said.
No kidding.
While The Who was rockin' out at halftime, Payton calmly strolled up to punter and kickoff specialist Thomas Morstead to deliver the news: It was time for an even bigger gamble.
"We're doing it," the coach said.
Morstead knew exactly what Payton meant. The Saints would attempt an onside kick the rookie had been working on less than two weeks, a bounder that he tries to "bend like Beckham."