Renck: When it comes to New Orleans and Sean Payton, it’s bigger than football: “He rejuvenated the city”
Rejection brought them together. Payton flirted with the Raiders, but he wanted the Green Bay job. The Packers went in another direction, and he ended up in New Orleans. Brees was headed to the Dolphins as a free agent but failed a physical. Reggie Bush was supposed to go to the Texans with the No. 1 overall pick, but they passed on him.