New Orleans is now Payton's place to coach

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints will hire Dallas Cowboys assistant Sean Payton to his first NFL head coaching job, a team official familiar with the decision said Tuesday.

The Saints' official was speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the formal announcement wasn't expected until Wednesday.

Payton has been a quarterbacks coach for three seasons under Bill Parcells in Dallas. He also held the title of assistant head coach. Before that he was a New York Giants assistant, a stint that included that team's NFC Championship in 2000.

Payton was one of five candidates interviewed by the Saints at the team's headquarters last week. The others were Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson, Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon, former Green Bay head coach Mike Sherman and former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz.

Payton will succeed Jim Haslett, whose tenure lasted six years. The Saints were 3-13 in 2005, a season in which all of their "home" games were played on the road because of Hurricane Katrina. The Saints were a .500 team during Haslett's first five seasons combined.

Payton has said the Saints' poor showing in 2005 did not deter him from seeking the job.

"It's hard to look at their talent now compared to their record with all of the circumstances and things that they've gone through," Payton said last week. "It's a team that's certainly shown that they can be competitive and I would look forward to that challenge."

NINERS HIRE TURNER: Norv Turner is going back to what he does best, and his assistant-turned-boss is glad he chose the San Francisco 49ers.

Turner, fired as coach of the Oakland Raiders two weeks ago, moved across San Francisco Bay to become the 49ers' offensive coordinator on Tuesday.

Coach Mike Nolan hired his former boss with the Washington Redskins to replace Mike McCarthy, named the Green Bay Packers' head coach last week after one terrible season with the Niners.

"There's a good foundation here, and the way the 49ers ran the ball late in the year is exciting for me," Turner said Tuesday as he formally took over the NFL's worst offense in 2005. "This is a young team, and I look forward to being part of the young players' development."

SEAHAWKS EXPECT ALEXANDER TO PRACTICE TODAY: Shaun Alexander was feeling "loopy" on Saturday. By Monday, the NFL rushing leader was back in the loop for the Seattle Seahawks as they prepare for the NFC championship game against the Carolina Panthers.