If the Raiders had Sean Payton...

What you may not have heard is how the Saints can thank Al Davis, Bill Parcells and McDonald’s cheeseburgers for their Super Bowl-winning coach.

In 2004, Sean Payton had just finished his first year as Parcells’ quarterbacks coach in Dallas when Davis, the Oakland Raiders’ eccentric owner, called him for his first head-coaching interview. Despite Oakland’s reputation as a tough place to work, he was looking for an excuse to take it.

Instead, he got a big dose of Davis.

In his new autobiography, "Home Team: Coaching the Saints and New Orleans Back to Life," written with Ellis Henican and released Tuesday, Payton recalled his two-day interview with Davis. After a long first day that included questions on everything from defensive fronts to player tickets, Davis sent an assistant to get dinner.

"He came back with a bag of cheeseburgers — not Quarter Pounders with cheese or Big Macs. The kids-menu cheeseburgers — 10 of them," Payton wrote. "Like the kind that come with the Happy Meal. And then there was another bag of Kentucky Fried Chicken cole slaw."

If that doesn’t tell you you’re dealing with a Mickey Mouse operation, I don’t know what will.

Payton, however, expected to be offered the job and was strongly considering taking it. He and Davis began talking about which assistants he’d hire. Everything was falling into place for Payton to be the Raiders’ coach, until he talked to his boss in Dallas.

Parcells called to find out whether he’d have Payton back on his staff for the 2004 season. He knew Payton had sought advice from a trio of coaches with whom he’d worked before — Jon Gruden, John Fox and Bill Callahan. All had coached in Oakland in the past.

Parcells asked Payton what advice he’d received. Payton said Gruden, Fox and Callahan all advised him against taking the job.

"Bill said, ‘Put my name behind those three. You’re gonna get your chance. This isn’t the right one, kid,’" Payton wrote.

Payton stayed in Dallas in 2004. Two years later, he was the Saints’ head coach.

He admits in the book that New Orleans wasn’t the job he wanted.

He was hoping to go to Green Bay, which also had an opening. But the Packers went with former Saints offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy and Payton went to New Orleans, where he’s more likely to be seen at Emeril’s than the golden arches.

One of the first things he did after getting there was to sign free-agent quarterback Drew Brees after Saban and the Dolphins, also looking for a QB, passed due to concerns about his surgically repaired shoulder.

And we all know what happened four years later.

Contact Mike Herndon at: mherndon@press-register.com