To get the Saints inspired for their march into the playoffs, New Orleans coach Sean Payton created a display that was worthy of a Mardi Gras float.
When players walked into their meeting room earlier this week, Payton had a stack of more than $200,000 in cash, the Vince Lombardi Trophy and a Super Bowl ring waiting for them.
He also had a message for the team:
From sources:
Yesterday, 4 armed guards entered the @saints locker room, with Coach @SeanPayton wheeling the Lombardi trophy on top of $225k in cash.
Coach then said: “Y’all want this???”
“Win 3 F’n games.”
The locker room erupted. $225k is each player’s SB bonus. #WHODAT
— Jon DeTrinis (@JonDeTrinis) January 9, 2019
That's one way to motivate your players…
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton brought $200,000 in cash, the Vince Lombardi Trophy and a Super Bowl ring into the team meeting room to show his team what success looks like.
MORE: 📝 https://t.co/bNIcwM1Ti5 pic.twitter.com/R7OkO4ga7S
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) January 10, 2019
The cash, which was also accompanied by four armed guards, is how much each player will make in playoff bonuses if they go all the way to the Super Bowl.
Before the Saints made their run to the Super Bowl in 2009, Payton used a similar tactic (though only three players on the current roster were there to see it.)
It may not have been new, but it was effective.
“We all know what’s at stake,” said defensive end Alex Okafor. “I think everybody in this locker room wants a Super Bowl. But there’s just seeing something in person that just adds a little bit more motivation. And just seeing that Super Bowl trophy, seeing that cash … I mean, if you ain’t ready to play after that, then we don’t need you.”
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