New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is in desperate need of a day job. And for a minute there, it appeared that his new career would be playing the crucial role of Jimmy Buffett’s bongo player.
Payton appeared on the bongos Saturday night at Buffett’s New Orleans concert, the sports website SB Nation reports. The “Margaritaville” singer donned a Free Sean Payton T-shirt as he played.
A message posted Sunday on BuffettWorld, “the web’s largest Jimmy Buffett resource,”said that Payton would begin touring with the Buffett’s band, following his suspension from is head coaching position with the New Orleans Saints.
The site even quoted the “New Orleans Times-Picayune” (very clever, guys!):
…Payton is wasting no time in making plans for his year off. Starting in June, he’ll hit the road with Jimmy Buffett for the Margaritaville crooner’s Lounging at the Lagoon 2012 Tour.
Payton is an “awesome guitar player” says Buffett. “Coach has rocked with me a few times at various places in New Orleans over the years and I’m really excited to have him along on the tour.”
Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 NFL season last month after the league uncovered that the Saints’ defense implemented a bounty program, in which players received money for taking out quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Brett Favre, among other opponents.
Naturally, a career as a bongo player is the obvious next step for a Super Bowl ring wearer. And who better to do that with than good ol’ Jimmy Buffett?
Well, too bad for those of who happen to be both Saints fans and Parrottheads — as Buffett’s fans are known. Turns out it was all an April Fool’s joke. But Payton really did appear onstage Saturday night, and he may need to keep up practicing if his appeal to the NFL for his job back doesn’t pan out.
Perhaps he can ask Jerry Jeff Walker for an apprenticeship.