Saints' Payton: 'Good chance' DC Dennis Allen will return

Sean Payton is staying in New Orleans, and it appears likely that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will return to the Saints as well.

"In all likelihood, there's a good chance that'll be the case," Payton said Wednesday when asked if Allen will be kept, adding that he thought Allen had done "a great job," according to Glenn Guilbeau of USA Today.

Allen took over from Rob Ryan, who was relieved of his duties in November following an abysmal start to the season for the Saints' defense, which ranked 32nd in the league at the time.

The Saints continued to struggle with Allen in charge, but it would appear the team wants to give him more time to turn around the unit, which has a startling lack of talent.